Kidney Stone Treatment: Understanding Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Kidney stones are hard crystallized deposits that form in the kidneys and become lodged in the urinary tract. Large kidney stones are painful and hard to pass through the urinary system. A process of blasting kidney stones produces smaller stones that are able to pass out of the body easier.

Things You'll Need

• Anesthesia
• Stent placement
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

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Instructions

• 1

  Take the anesthesia as your doctor recommends. This helps any pain that may be experienced during the procedure.

• 2

  Lie on a table as your doctor places a stent to hold the ureter open. The stent helps stones pass out of the ureter.

• 3

  Lie on a water-filled cushion. Your doctor uses ultrasound or x-rays to locate the lodged stones. Sound waves are passed into your body and the waves blast the stones into smaller fragments. Smaller stones pass out of your body in the next few days or weeks.