ESWL
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive procedure used to treat urinary tract stones. The procedure uses shock wave energy generated by a lithotripsy machine. These shock waves pass through the body tissues and are focused on the stone, breaking it into small fragments. Once the stone is broken into smaller pieces, these fragments can pass naturally through the urinary tract during urination.
ESWL is usually performed on an outpatient basis with mild sedation or anesthesia. It is most effective for stones smaller than 2 cm located in the kidney or upper ureter. After treatment, patients may experience mild discomfort or slight bleeding during urination as the stone fragments pass out of the body.
In some cases, an additional procedure may be required for larger stones. Because ESWL is non-invasive, complications are uncommon (less than 5%). However, possible complications may include urinary tract infection, blood in the urine, abdominal pain caused by passing stone fragments, and very rarely, kidney hematoma.