Kidney Stone Shockwave Treatment
Kidney stone shockwave treatment is also known as extracorporal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).
Kidney stone shockwave treatment is a technique that has been used since the 1980s to successfully treat renal stones. The procedure involves using a specialised ultrasound probe to direct shockwaves from outside the body through the body’s tissues, towards the kidney stones, where they break the stones up into smaller fragments. These small fragments can then be passed through the urine.Who is suitable for kidney stone shockwave treatment?
Kidney stone shockwave treatment is generally most appropriate for patients with smaller kidney stones that are less than 1.5cm in diameter. ESWL is most effective for patients who have stones located either in the kidney itself, or in the ureter close to the kidney. The treatment may not be effective in patients with larger stones, so in those cases the urologist may recommend alternative treatments.
There are a number of factors that can determine a patient’s suitability for kidney stone shockwave treatment. Some of these factors may include:
- The location of the stone within the urinary tract
- The size and shape of the stone
- The patient’s overall health
- The health of the patient’s kidney(s).
In cases where kidney stone shockwave treatment may not be considered to be an appropriate choice for you, the surgeons at Melbourne Urology Centre will be able to recommend another appropriate treatment. Our urologists are experts in the treatment and long term management of kidney stone disease. They may recommend another treatment such as:
- Medical expulsion therapy
- Minimally-invasive laser fragmentation
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNCL) surgery.
What are the advantages of having kidney stone shockwave treatment?
The greatest advantage of having kidney stone shockwave treatment is that kidney stones can be effectively treated without the need for an incision to be made. Because there are no incisions, the patient does not usually require a hospital stay and can therefore get back to most of their normal activities in 1-2 days following their ESWL treatment.
What should patients expect during and after kidney stone shockwave treatment?
Kidney stone shockwave treatment does not require any incision to be made, however patients are still likely to receive some sedation or anaesthetic. This helps the patient to remain still during the procedure and also reduces any discomfort. The patient is positioned on an operating table in a position that allows the urological surgeon to target the kidney stones with the shockwaves.
An x-ray is used to accurately identify the position of the stone within the urinary tract, and then a specialized machine is used to direct the shockwaves precisely to that location, targeting the stone.
For a typical kidney stone shockwave therapy procedure, 1000-2000 shockwaves are required to break a small stone. In some instances, the urologist may need to place a ureteral stent during the kidney stone shockwave treatment. The stent is a small piece of plastic tubing that is inserted into the ureter. It helps to take pressure off the bladder, as well as allowing the stone fragments to pass through more easily without blocking the ureter. The ureteral stent is removed at a later date, usually in the urologist’s rooms.
Patients can expect to be passing stone fragments in their urine for some days following their kidney stone shockwave treatment. On occasion, these fragments can cause some mild pain as they pass through the urinary tract. Some patients may also experience some mild abdominal discomfort, which is often felt as a dull ache and gradually reduces over the days following the procedure.
Depending on the size and density of the kidney stone, or stones, repeat treatments of kidney stone shockwave treatment may be required in order to break up the fragments further. Your urologist will be able to advise you regarding the expected outcomes of your procedure and how many treatments you can expect to have in order to effectively treat your stones.
Kidney stone shockwave treatment at Melbourne Urology Centre.
At Melbourne Urology Centre, our urologists are experts in performing kidney stone shockwave treatment. Doctors Shekib Shahbaz and Tony de Sousa and their team are committed to providing each patient with the highest standard of quality, personalized specialist care.
If you would like to make an appointment time to discuss kidney stone shockwave treatment, please contact our reception to make an appointment. Please note that you will need to have a referral to our urologists from your GP in order to be able to secure an appointment time.