What Is Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy?
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of
kidney stones. ESWL uses shock waves to break up kidney stones so that they can easily pass through the urinary tract.
How Does This Procedure Work?
In extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, shockwaves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser kidney stones. After the stones have been hit, they will break down into sand-like particles that are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.
Types of Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
There are several types of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy devices. One type of device requires the person to lie in a water bath while the shockwaves are transmitted. Another type of device requires the person to lie on a soft cushion. Most devices use x-rays or ultrasounds to help surgeons pinpoint the stone during treatment. For most types of ESWL procedures, anesthesia is required.
Recovering From Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
In most cases, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy may be done on an outpatient basis because recovery time is short. Most people can resume normal activities a few days after the procedure.
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