Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a technique for treating stones in the kidney and ureter that does not require surgery. Instead, high energy shock waves are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of sand. Because of their small size, these pieces can pass from the body along with the urine.
Stones larger and harder for Lithotripsy can be easily treated by a flexible scope passed through penis. Laser is used to pulverize stones Dust particles come out of the ureter.
Advantages of Lithotripsy :
- Pulverization of stone rather than Fragmentation
- Less painful Treatment
- Post Treatment colics are very less
- Requirement of surgery of stones reduced to only large stones
- Patient can resume daily activities within one to two days
- Short hospital stay
