What is Lithotripsy?
Lithotripsy is the use of high-energy shock waves to fragment and disintegrate kidney stones. The shock wave, created by using a high-voltage spark or an electromagnetic impulse outside of the body, is focused on the stone. The shock wave shatters the stone, allowing the fragments to pass through the urinary system. Since the shock wave is generated outside the body, the procedure is termed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The name is derived from the roots of two Greek words, litho, meaning stone, and trip, meaning to break.
Pre-operative care for Lithotripsy:
Prior to the lithotripsy procedure, a complete physical examination is performed, followed by tests to determine the number, location, and size of the stone or stones. A test called an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is used to locate the stones, which involves injecting a dye into a vein in the arm. This dye, which shows up on X ray, travels through the bloodstream and is excreted by the kidneys. The dye then flows down the ureters and into the bladder. The dye surrounds the stones. In this manner, x rays are used to evaluate the stones and the anatomy of the urinary system. Blood tests are performed to determine if any potential bleeding problems exist. For women of childbearing age, a pregnancy test is done to make sure they are not pregnant. Older persons have an EKG test to make sure that no potential heart problems exist. Some individuals may have a stent placed prior to the lithotripsy procedure. A stent is a plastic tube placed in the ureter that allows the passage of gravel and urine after the ESWL procedure is completed.The process of lithotripsy generally takes about one hour. During that time, up to 8,000 individual shock waves are administered. Depending on a person’s pain tolerance; there may be some discomfort during the treatment. Analgesics may be administered to relieve this pain.
Procedure of Lithotripsy:
Lithotripsy is a technique used to break up stones that form in the kidney, bladder, ureters, or gallbladder. There are several ways of doing this, although the most common is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The shock waves are focused on the kidney stone and break the stone into tiny pieces, which are passed out of the body naturally during urination. Throughout the procedure, the doctor can view what is happening to the stones through x-ray or ultrasound monitoring. This procedure prevents patient from having to undergo surgery to have the stones removed, which reduces discomfort, complications, hospital stay, costs, and recovery time.Patient will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 hours prior to the procedure, or after midnight of the previous night, if the procedure is in the morning. If patient take regular medicines, patient should ask doctor if they are safe to take before the procedure. For instance, patient may be asked to stop taking aspirin and other drugs that interfere with blood clotting several days before.On the day of the procedure, patient should wear comfortable clothes that are easy to remove, as patient will have to change into a surgical gown. The procedure generally takes from 45 minutes to 1 hour. In most cases, patient will be asked to lie on a table on top of a soft cushion, through which the shock waves are directed from the lithotripsy machine, called the lithotripter. Older machines require that patient immerse patient in a specially designed tub filled with water, and although less commonly used, these machines are still available today and are effective. Typically, patient will receive some form of anesthesia, and depending on the level of sedation, patient may feel a tapping sensation when the procedure begins. Since lithotripsy can cause mild discomfort, a mild sedative or painkiller is given beforehand. Patient should tell doctor if patient is pregnant, because lithotripsy must not be performed during pregnancy.While most kidney stones are treated with this type of lithotripsy, not all stones can be treated this way. Sometimes a laser is used to pulverize the stone, but when a laser is used, the doctor must use an endoscope, which is a tube introduced into the body, via the urinary tract, to get close to the stone. The doctor may also access the stone from back into kidney, through a procedure called percutaneous lithotripsy. Laser lithotripsy is usually used when the stone does not respond to extracorporeal shock wave treatment or when it is in a place that is difficult to access. It requires a hospital stay and carries a slightly greater risk of complications than extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
How successful is lithotripsy?
In those patients who are thought to be good candidates for this treatment, about 70 to 90 percent are found to be free of stones within three months of treatment. The highest success rates seem to be in those patients with mobile stones that are located in the upper portions of the urinary tract (kidney and upper ureter). After treatment, some patients may still have stone fragments that are too large to be passed. These can be treated again if symptoms persist.
Lithotripsy in India:
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