Frequently Asked Questions

ESWL is a frequently used medical procedure for treating urinary stones. During lithotripsy, carefully directed shock wave will pass through the body, hit the stones direct and crumble them into sand-like particles which will then be excreted via the urinary tract after the treatment.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) uses shock waves to break a kidney stone into small pieces that can more easily travel through the urinary tract and pass from the body. See a picture of ESWL. You lie on a water-filled cushion, and the surgeon uses X-rays or ultrasound tests to precisely locate the stone.

In conclusion, ESWL as an outpatient procedure does not require analgesia or anesthesia; it remains the first line therapy for proximal ureteral stones while ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy as a surgical procedure requires general anesthesia, hospitalization and much more costs

For ESWL, the person will lie on the table with the lithotripter positioned to target the location of the stones. A doctor will pass a water-filled cushion between the body and lithotripter to conduct the shockwaves properly. The shock waves are not painful.

The recovery time is usually fairly brief. After treatment, the patient can get up to walk almost at once, Many people can fully resume daily activities within one to two days. Special diets are not required, but drinking plenty of water helps the stone fragments pass. For several weeks, you may pass stone fragments.

How long does it take for a kidney stone to pass after lithotripsy? The stone fragments may pass in within a week but could take up to 4-8 weeks for all fragments to pass

It is dependent on the location and size of the stones as well as patients’ actual condition and can hardly be generalized. Moreover, the recurrence rate of stones is high, patients are therefore recommended to drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy lifestyle after the treatment in order to reduce the chance of recurrence.