How does extracorporeal lithotripsy work?
Disease description:
I was diagnosed with kidney stones, but they are not very large in size. They are relatively small and can be treated with extracorporeal lithotripsy. I would like to know how extracorporeal lithotripsy works to break up the stones.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Luo Yong
Basic steps of extracorporeal lithotripsy:
1. **Localization of the stone**: The physician uses X-ray or ultrasound imaging to accurately determine the position and size of the stone.
2. **Patient preparation**: The patient is usually required to lie on a movable table that allows adjustment of angles, to optimally align the shock wave source with the stone.
3. **Focusing the shock waves**: The machine generates high-intensity shock waves that are transmitted through a water bath or other medium to minimize damage to surrounding tissues and ensure that the energy is concentrated on the stone.
4. **Lithotripsy procedure**: The physician adjusts the machine to precisely align the shock waves with the stone, then gradually increases the energy level and delivers hundreds, or even thousands, of shock waves until the stone is fragmented into sufficiently small pieces.
5. **Post-procedure care**: After treatment, the patient may be advised to drink plenty of water to help pass the stone fragments and may require pain medication. In some cases, the physician may also recommend medications to assist in the passage of stone fragments through the urinary tract.
