To break a kidney stone into small pieces by using shock waves Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is used, and these small pieces can easily travel through the urinary tract. These waves are high-energy shock waves. ESWL is the commonly used tool in the urologists armamentarium for the treatment of midureteral stones, renal stones, proximal stones. Comparing with open and endoscopic procedures, ESWL is minimally invasive procedure, exposes patient to less anesthesia, and yields equivalent stone-free rates. Extracorporeal lithotripsy treatment works best with the stones size ranging 4mm to 20mm (0.4 cms to 2.0 cms) in diameter that are located in the kidney.
HOW IT WAS DONE: lithotripsy treatment takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform. Patients are given anesthesia they may be local or general so that they won’t experience any pain.
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Initially patient need to lie on a water-filled cushion, and than doctor uses X-rays or ultrasound tests to locate the exact position of the stone .
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Then after high energy sound waves are passed through the body without causing any damage or injury and they will break the stone into small pieces, these small pieces can move from the urinary tract to out of the body much easily.
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Doctor may use a stent (it is a small, short tube which iss made up of a thin flexible plastic mesh that will holds the ureter open) if patient is having large stones. Without blocking the ureter stent will helps the small stone pieces to pass away.
ESWL works very well for the most of the people who are having small kidney stones it may be either in the kidney or in ureter. ESWL is not recomended for the persons who are having bleeding disorder related to kidney, pregnant womens, who are suffering from urinary tract infections.
