Current state of AI for shockwave lithotripsy: a systematic review from YAU and EAU endourology

Talyshinskii A. Juliebø-Jones P. Tzelves L. Naik N. Nedbal C. Keulimzhayev N. Panthier F. Pietropaolo A. Somani B.K.
December 2025 Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

World Journal of Urology
2025 #43 Issue 1

Purpose: To consolidate the current evidence of artificial intelligence (AI) for management of nephrolithiasis using extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and to look at its feasibility into integration in clinical practice. Methods: In March 2025, the sytematic search was conducted across several databases, including, PubMed, Google Scholar, ACM Digital Library, CINAHL, and IEEE Xplore via Boolean operators with the use of the dedicated terms. Studies that described the development and validation and/or testing of AI-based models for ESWL, regardless of clinical scenario, published in English were included. Results: 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. These were grouped based on their primary application into two key scenarios: outcomes prediction (n = 14) and intraoperative assistance (n = 3). Despite promising results, many studies used meaningfully different methodologies to develop AI-based models, especially different baseline inputs. Moreover, many studies present mutually exclusive information, as illustrated by the use of body mass index (BMI) as input. Finally, many studies are presented as single center studies or without external testing, which reduces the likelihood of generalizability of the resulting accuracy metrics. Conclusion. There is increasing evidence of the role of AI in predicting ESWL outcomes and assisting during the procedure, often outperforming traditional statistical models. More prospective multi-institutional studies need to be done with standardized parameters and external validation to fully integrate AI in the management of ESWL.

Artificial intelligence , Assistance , ESWL , Nephrolithiasis , Outcomes

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Department of Urology and Andrology, Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Young Academic Urologists (YAU) Urolithiasis and Endourology Working Group, Arnhem, Netherlands
European Association of Urology (EAU) Endourology Section, Arnhem, Netherlands
Department of Urology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, Manipal, 576104, India
Department of Urology, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
Polytechnic University of Le Marche, Ancona, Italy
Department of Urology, Tenon Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
GRC Urolithiasis 20, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom

Department of Urology and Andrology
Young Academic Urologists (YAU) Urolithiasis and Endourology Working Group
European Association of Urology (EAU) Endourology Section
Department of Urology
Department of Urology
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Department of Urology
Polytechnic University of Le Marche
Department of Urology
GRC Urolithiasis 20
Department of Urology

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026