Shockwave Lithotripsy

Shockwave Lithotripsy

  • Overview
  • Appointments
  • Treatment
  • Doctors

    • What is shockwave lithotripsy?

    The most commonly performed surgery for kidney stones is shockwave lithotripsy. With this procedure, stones in the kidney and ureter are pulverized into small fragments by means of short-duration, high-energy shockwaves that are produced outside the body by a lithotripter.

    Why is shockwave lithotripsy 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 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.

    Appointment Information

    Our Urology specialists are accepting new patients for initial and second opinions. Our medical staff’s goal is to see and evaluate patients based on their symptoms and urologic needs in a timely manner. If you want to receive kind and compassionate care at the leading urologic practice in Michigan, use our online appointment form to request an appointment online or call 734–936–7030.

    How is shock wave lithotripsy done?

    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.

    How can you care for yourself after shock wave lithotripsy?

    Activity

    • Rest as much as you need to after you go home.
    • You may do your regular activities. But avoid hard exercise or sports for a week. Wait until there is no blood in your urine and the stent is out.

    Diet

    • You can eat your normal diet.
    • Drink plenty of fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.

    Medicines

    • Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You will also be given instructions about taking any new medicines.
    • If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
    • Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
      • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
      • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), or similar medicines unless your doctor tells you to.
      • Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.

    Other instructions

    • Urinate through the strainer the doctor gives you. Save any stone pieces, including those that look like sand or gravel. Take these to your doctor. This will help your doctor find the cause of your stones.

    Doctors

     Search for a U-M Health doctor     Sapan Nitin Ambani, MD

    Sapan Nitin Ambani, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Urology

    Casey Andrew Dauw, MD

    Casey Andrew Dauw, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor

    Urology

    Khurshid Ridwan Ghani, MD

    Khurshid Ridwan Ghani, MBCHB

    Clinical Professor

    Urology

    William Woodruff Roberts, MD

    Professor

    Urology

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