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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 But Mosca said lithotripsy has changed a lot since 1985, so the results may not be relevant for individuals undergoing the procedure today. "At that time, people were probably overtreating a bit," he said. "Also, they used the HM3 machine, which produces the highest energy of any lithotripsy machine."
Another reason for caution was the use of questionnaires, Mosca said. "If you interview people [face to face] you get different results," he said.
And there's another reason to doubt the findings, a least as they pertain to diabetes: insulin is produced in the pancreas, which is unaffected by lithotripsy. "Usually the path of the beam is not through the pancreas," Mosca said.
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True, said Krambeck, but that assumes perfect aim on the part of the practitioner. "The pancreas could be hit by shock waves if not correctly focused," she said.
Mosca said he has no plans to reduce or stop using lithotripsy. "At this moment, no," he said. "Not until I saw something that was prospective and a little less uncontrolled."
Prospective studies, aimed at following patients carefully after treatment, are in the planning stages, Krambeck said.
Meanwhile, little has changed at the Mayo Clinic, she said. Urologists there are still using the HM3 machine, which Krambeck called "the gold standard."
"Most of our patients have been receptive to shock wave therapy," she said, even after being told about the potential long-term risks. Many prefer it to alternative treatments such as surgery, Krambeck added.
More information
For more on kidney stones and their treatment, head to the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com ).
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