ESWL (shock wave lithotripsy) sends high-frequency sound waves from external sources, breaks down the kidney stone into small pieces and allows it to be excreted from the urinary tract.
What are the advantages of this method?
- It is a method for reliable and non-invasive stone treatment.
- Where it is compared with other techniquesit may require multiple sessions to completely clean the stones.
- Results can be influenced by the patient's weight, stone size, and anatomy of the kidney.
- Depending on the structure and function of the kidney, stone spill may be affected.
How to prepare for ESWL?
ESWL is usually a method of administration that does not require sedation or general anesthesia, but is administered under sedation in pediatric and infant patients. There is no need for any preparation, only patients should stop their blood thinners for 5-7 days without any procedure. If ESWL is to be administered under sedation or general anesthesia, eating and drinking (including water) should be discontinued for 6 hours before treatment.
What Should I Bring Before ESWL?
- Patient images, films, tomography or ultrasound, etc.
- Medications you use regularly
What is done in the operation room?
About 30 minutes before the ESWL session, an effective pain medication is given and waited. Then the patient is taken to the session. If needed during the procedure can be done under sedation. In this case, the patient's stone breaks down painlessly during sleep.
What are ESWL Risks?
ESWL can be considered a very safe and comfortable operation. Some specific complications are;
- Pain due to stone fragments moving along the road
- Stone fragments reduce urine to cause clogging (In this case the parts can be cleaned with a rigid ureter scopeor Tubewith J Point can be inserted.In some cases, the stone may not be spilled despite stone breakage.
This process is not applicable in the following cases:
- Pregnant women (Sound waves and films can harm the baby)
- If you have bleeding disorder
- If you have kidney and urinary tract infection or kidney cancer
What to Expect?
After this procedure, the pieces of stone are discarded in the urine within a few days or weeks. This may cause slight pain.Occasionally, an extra session or rarely invasive stone treatments may be required to completely clear the stones.
Monitoring
You may need to drink 8-10 glasses of liquid a day to facilitate falling of stone pieces.After an ESWL session, you should come for a check-up after an average of 7 days.The controls continue until the stone is cleared. If ESWL is administered under sedation or general anesthesia, you should not be able to drive for at least 24 hours after the procedure.Following the passage of kidney stonesyour follow-up will continue at regular intervals (3, 6 and 12 months intervals) in our control policlinic.
