LITHOTRIPSY FOR KIDNEY STONES

A lithotripsy for kidney stones is a nonsurgical procedure in which the doctor uses sound waves from a lithotripsy machine to break up stones in your kidney. The stone pieces are then flushed out in the urine.

This procedure may be done when the kidney stones are painful, are causing kidney damage, or are blocking the flow of urine to the bladder. The stones may permanently hurt kidney function if they are not treated. The stones can also cause infection. Sometimes they cause heavy bleeding and shock. Not all kidney stones can be treated with lithotripsy. Ask your healthcare provider whether lithotripsy is an option for you.

If you have a lithotripsy you will be given a local or general anesthetic to prevent you from feeling pain during the operation. The doctor may put tubes into your ureter (the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder). You lie on a table over the lithotripsy machine. The lithotripsy machine sends sound waves against the kidney stones, breaking them. The doctor uses x-rays to find the kidney stones, keep the sound waves focused on them, and track their breakdown. The stones can then pass down your ureters into the bladder after a few days.

After the procedure you may be in the recovery room for a few hours to recover from the anesthetic before going home. Any pain you may have felt with the kidney stones before this treatment may continue as the pieces of stone pass out of the ureter into the bladder. Drink plenty of fluids to help keep the stones from reforming and to flush out any the remaining pieces. You may be given medication to prevent stones from reforming. If you had tubes placed in your ureter the doctor may take them out in 3 to 10 days. During that time you may need to go to the bathroom more often than usual.

Ask your provider how you should care for yourself at home and when to return for a checkup.

The main benefit of lithotripsy is to get rid of kidney stones that would otherwise need surgery. As with any procedure there are some risks, which include:

the risk of general anesthesia
pain from not enough local anesthetic
infection
bleeding
bladder or ureter blockage from the broken stones
the possible need for an additional procedure if leftover pieces of stone remain in the kidney and
a rare risk of a more serious complication, such as shock

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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