Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), Opens dialog

Treatment Overview

Shock wave lithotripsy is a way to treat kidney stones without surgery. It is also called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or ESWL. This treatment uses sound waves to break kidney stones into tiny pieces. These pieces can then pass out of the body in the urine.

You may get medicine to make you relaxed and help with pain or discomfort.

You will lie on a table. The lithotripsy machine directs sound waveslithotripsy machine directs sound waves at your stone through a cushion.

The doctor may use a small, flexible tube called a stent. The stent will let the stone pass more easily.

Most people are at the doctor's office or clinic for about 2 hours. You can go back to your normal routine right away.

Most stones pass within 24 hours after the procedure. But it can take as long as several weeks. If you have a large stone, you may need to come back for several treatments. In some cases lithotripsy does not break up the stones. Surgery may be needed to remove them.

What To Expect

Shock wave lithotripsy is usually an outpatient procedureoutpatient procedure. You go home after the treatment and don't have to spend a night in the hospital.

After the procedure, stone fragments usually pass in the urine for a few days and cause mild pain. If you have a larger stone, you may need more shock wave therapy or other treatments.

Why It Is Done

Shock wave lithotripsy may be used on a person who has a kidney stone that is causing pain or blocking the urine flow. Stones that are between 4 mm (0.16 in.) and 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter are most likely to be treated with ESWL.

The procedure may work best for kidney stones in the kidney or in the part of the ureterureter close to the kidney. Your surgeon may try to push the stone back into the kidney with a small tool (ureteroscope) and then use the procedure.

Shock wave lithotripsy is usually not used if you:

Are pregnant. The sound waves and X-rays may be harmful to the fetus.
Have a bleeding disorder.
Have a kidney infection, urinary tract infectionurinary tract infection, or kidney cancer.
Have kidneys with abnormal structure or function.

Information about Shock Wave Lithotripsy

How Well It Works

Risks

Risks of shock wave treatment include:

Pain caused by the passage of stone fragments.
Blocked urine flow because of stone fragments getting stuck in the urinary tract. The fragments may then need to be removed with a ureteroscope.
Urinary tract infection.
Bleeding around the outside of the kidney.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffIgnite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review BoardClinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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