Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy is the procedure performed for the purpose of breaking up kidney stones by sound waves produced by a lithotriptor.

After a fluoroscope or ultrasound devices are used to locate the stones, the lithotriptor is placed against the person’s back, and the sound wave is focused on the stones, shattering them.

After that, the person drinks fluid to help flush the fragments of the stone out of the kidney, to be eliminated in the patient’s urine. Sometimes, the abdomen is bruised or blood appears in the urine after the extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy procedure, but severe problems are rare.

This entry was filed under Procedures.

Tags: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, kidney stones, lithotriptor, shock wave lithotripsy