Comparison of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) With and Without DJ Stenting in Proximal Ureteric and Renal Pelvis Stones

Introduction: Urolithiasis requires effective management. ESWL is common for proximal ureteric and renal pelvis stones, but the role of routine DJ stenting is debated. This study evaluates its impact on stone clearance for 1.5–2 cm stones. Study Design and Setting: A prospective comparative cohort study was conducted over a six-month period from September 2024 to February 2025. Methodology:A total of 70 patients with renal pelvis or proximal ureteric stones (1.5–2.0 cm, =1000 HU) were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling and divided into two equal groups: Group A (ESWL without DJ stent) and Group B (ESWL with DJ stent) by simple randomization through lottery technique. Patients underwent up to five ESWL sessions using the Dornier Sigma Plus 2 lithotripter. Treatment success was defined as complete stone clearance confirmed by X-ray KUB and ultrasound one month after the final session. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, Chi square tests were applied, with significance set at p = 0.05 Results:Stone clearance was achieved in 29 (82.9%) patients in the DJ stent group and 27 (77.1%) in the non-stented group. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.550). Subgroup analysis by stone size, density, and Body Mass Index (BMI) showed no clear correlation with treatment success. Conclusion: The findings indicate that routine DJ stenting does not notably improve stone clearance in ESWL for 1.5–2 cm proximal ureteric and renal pelvis stones. A selective, risk-based stenting approach is advised, particularly in resourceconstrained settings