ArticleTherapeutic advances in urology
A large series of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the very elderly.
Article in Therapeutic advances in urology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in elderly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis by the EAU-YAU urolithiasis and EAU endourology sections.World journal of urology · 2026Pooled it
- Outcomes following surgical management of urinary stone disease in older patients.The Canadian journal of urology · 2026Article
- Observational
- Management of large kidney stones in the geriatric population.World journal of urology · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe incidence of urinary lithiasis has been increasing in recent decades at all ages, including the elderly. In parallel, the world population is aging and there is a paucity of data on treatment of urinary stones in very elderly people. Our main objective was to evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) in patients older than 75 years, and the characteristics of this population. Complications and mortality rates after this procedure in octogenarians were also described.
methodsWe retrospectively evaluated very elderly patients who underwent ESWL at our institution from 1998 to 2015, through chart review, telephone interviews, and consultation with the municipal mortality information program. Measured outcomes included demographic and clinical data, ESWL characteristics and complications, interval between ESWL and death, and cause of death.
resultsDemographic and treatment characteristics were similar between very elderly and younger patients who underwent ESWL during the same period. No severe complications occurred among older patients. Octogenarians treated in our cohort had a significant life expectancy when ESWL procedures were performed. Even though 38.9% of the patients passed away during the studied period, mortality occurred on average 4.38 years after the ESWL session.
conclusionsIn conclusion, ESWL has been used by urologists as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated urinary calculi in very elderly patients. Despite changes associated with aging, and the high prevalence of comorbidities, this procedure seems to be safe and well tolerated in elderly people.
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