How well do ESWL nomograms predict treatment success in pediatric patients?

Objective: To study was to identify the variables that influence the outcomes of pediatric SWL patients in our clinic and to compare our findings to previously published nomograms. Methods: All children who underwent SWL at a single center between 2005 and 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Depending upon the age and mental state of the children, SWL procedures were performed with or without anesthesia. Data from the hospital information system were obtained on patient characteristics, metabolic evaluation, imaging, SWL details, and post-procedure results, and their correlation with the Onal and Dogan nomograms was evaluated. Results: The present study included 112 pediatric patients in total. The average age was 8.22 +/- 4.9 (83.3 +/- 58.1 months, 4 months-16 years), and the median stone size was 9.5 +/- 3.2 mm (4-20 mm). Even though there was quite a significant positive correlation between age and the number of shots and the intensity of shots (intensity and number of shots increased with increasing age), there was no statistical difference in the number of sessions and stone-free rates. The number of shots and sessions was significantly lower in patients with hydronephrosis (N=70) than in those without (N=42) (p <0.001). When the stone-free rates of patients without and with hydronephrosis were compared, it was discovered that they were 69.05% and 92.86%, respectively, which was statistically significant (p< 0.01). Conclusions: It is believed that the nomograms developed for SWL in pediatric patients should be reviewed, and larger, prospective studies should be conducted.