At least 90% of urinary stones can be treated by ESWL therapy, including stones that are not too large and not causing obstruction or infection. This means that not allstones can be cured.

• The shock wave from an energy source are transmitted through the patient’s skin and pass harmlessly through the patient’s soft tissue.
• The shock wave passes through the kidney and strikes the stone. At the stone boundary, energy is lost, and this causes small cracks to form on the edge of the stone. The same effect occurs when the shockwave exits the stone. With successive shocks, the cracks open up, and in turn, smaller cracks form within the large cracks. Eventually, the stone is reduced to small particles, which are then flushed out of the kidneys or ureter naturally during urination.
• The process generally takes about 1 hour during which up to 45,000 shocks are administered.
• The patient may experience some discomfort during the treatment depending on the patient’s pain tolerance. Analgesics may be administered to make the patient more comfortable.

• This can be done as an inpatient or an outpatient basis.
• No overnight fasting is necessary, although a heavy meal before the procedure is not advisable.
• If you are on medication, please let your doctor know, as some medicines may need to be stopped temporarily for the treatment.

• The patient lies on a water-filled cushion and x-rays or ultrasound tests are used to precisely locate the stone. High-energy sound waves pass through the body without injuring it and shatter 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.
• Sedatives or painkillers may be used.

• Blood may be seen in the urine for a few days after ESWL.
• The stone fragments may pass over a period of a few days or weeks. Some people may have pain as the small stone fragments pass through the urinary system.
• You are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to flush out stone fragments.
• Some patients may develop fever. You should get in touch with your doctor if it happens.

Benefits

• ESWL is a safe procedure and may be used on children and on individuals with only one working kidney. ESWL may still be used if you have a pacemaker but a cardiologist has to determine that it is safe.
• ESWL can also be used to break up a stone that is in the ureter, not necessarily in the kidney.

Risks

About 10% or less of people who are treated with ESWL have complications. These include:

• Pain caused by the passage of stone fragments.
• Blocked urine flow as a result of stone fragments becoming stuck in the urinary tract. The fragments may then need to be removed from a ureteroscope.
• Bleeding outside of the kidney.