Conclusion
We found that in the treatment of ureteral stones above the iliac crest
level with SWL, UWT was the most important independent variable that
increased treatment failure. Although not as strong as UWT, the presence
of multiple stones was another independent factor that increased
failure. The use of SWL technology and growing experience concerning the
mechanical hardware of the machine can further improve treatment results
and lead to the most minimally invasive treatment option becoming more
popular.