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What is Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)?
Extracorporeal Shock wave lithotripsy uses shock waves to break stones into small pieces without surgery that can be more easily flushed out of the urinary tract and pass out of the body. After identification of the position of the stone with X-ray or ultrasound, shockwaves are applied from outside to fragment the stones.
This procedure takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, and is often done as an Outpatient Procedure. It can be repeated and may have to be repeated for larger or harder stones. It however is not suitable for stones larger than 2cm.
Extracorporeal Shock wave lithotripsy uses shock waves to break stones into small pieces without surgery that can be more easily flushed out of the urinary tract and pass out of the body. After identification of the position of the stone with X-ray or ultrasound, shockwaves are applied from outside to fragment the stones.
This procedure takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, and is often done as an Outpatient Procedure. It can be repeated and may have to be repeated for larger or harder stones. It however is not suitable for stones larger than 2cm.
What type of surgeries can be used for stone removal?
Open Surgery – Pyelolithotomy/ Ureterolithotomy refers to the open surgical removal of a stone from the kidney/ureter. These techniques are rarely used now a days.
Ureteroscopy (URS)– Involves the use of an endoscope that can be inserted up the urethra, through the bladder and into the ureter without an incision. Stones are fragmented using Holmium laser.
Percutaneous surgery (PCNL) – Under anaesthesia a nephroscope is passed through an incision made in the flank area to locate and remove the stone after breaking it(fragmentation)•
