What is shock wave lithotripsy?

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 ureter 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 infection, or kidney cancer.
• Have kidneys with abnormal structure or function.

Shock wave therapy uses shock waves to break a kidney stone into small pieces that can more easily travel through the urinary tract and pass from the body.

• You lie on a water-filled cushion, and the surgeon uses X-rays or ultrasound tests to precisely locate the stone. High-energy sound waves pass through your body without injuring it and break the stone into small pieces. These small pieces move through the urinary tract and out of the body more easily than a large stone.
• The process takes about an hour.
• You may receive sedatives or local anesthesia.
• Your surgeon may use a stent if you have a large stone. A stent is a small, short tube of flexible plastic mesh that holds the ureter open. This helps the small stone pieces to pass without blocking the ureter.