What is Shockwave Lithotripsy?

by Dr Rahul MD

Shockwave lithotripsy Delhi is a non-surgical procedure for kidney stone treatment. In the process, shockwaves are sent to the kidney stone that causes the stone to break into tiny pieces. Once the rocks break into dust, they pass from the urine. It is a non-surgical technique for the treatment of kidney stones or Ureter stones with the help of high-density shock waves.

Facts to Be Considered Before Starting SWL Treatment

Size of the stone. Huge stones cannot be treated with this method. 2 cm is considered as the best size for SWL Treatment.
Shape and position of the stone.
Kidney health and health of the patient.

People Who Cannot Go Through SWL Treatment

Pregnant women cannot undergo this treatment.
People who are suffering from severe skeletal abnormalities, bleeding disorders or infections are also prohibited.
Obese people are also not good candidates for SWL.
People with various kidney disorders, a cardiac pacemaker cannot use SWL.

Duration of Treatment and Recovery

It takes approximately one hour to complete the procedure. The patient is discharged on the hour after the surgery, and there is no need for pre or post-hospitalization during the treatment. Patients recover fully and can continue with normal daily activities within two days. No special diets require after the surgery. Drinking lot of water is advised post the procedure. Patients will pass stone fragments for a few weeks.

Need of Anaesthesia

The patient will feel pain during the treatment, and therefore, light sedation or general anaesthetics are used. The use of anaesthesia will also depend on the type, size and position of the stone.

Advantages of SWL Treatment

Treatment does not require any surgery.
A patient suffers minimal or no pain.
Recovery is quick, and most of the people get rid of the stone in a month.
The patient can get back to work within 48 hours.
It is very cost-effective and budget-friendly treatment.

Disadvantages of SWL

It cannot be used on big stones.
Sometimes due to size or position repeat procedure is required.
It can cause injury in the kidney.
In rare cases, bleeding near the kidney may occur that might require blood transfusion or stones can block the flow of urine.

The success rate of shock wave therapy is more than 75%. It is considered safe, and people across the world are using this therapy for the treatment of kidney stones.

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