Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Ninety percent of patient with diagnosed renal or ureteral stones could be successfully cured using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Lithotripsy is used when calculus is from 5 to 25 mm in diameter. During this procedure high-energy sonic waves are directed precisely on renal or ureteral calculus and disintegrate it. Before procedure painkillers are given to patient in order to avoid his discomfort. After calculus disintegrates, small pieces usually are easily excreted with urine.

Duration of the procedure is about 40 minutes. Lithotripsy is performed in the day hospital, and patient is discharged next day. Comparison x-ray is performed after two weeks, and results of procedure (total disintegration of calculus) are evaluated.

Modern lithotripsy machine Dornier Compact Sigma (Germany) is used in the Center to treat renal and ureteral calculi. Using ultrasound it may visualize even uric acid calculi invisible at x-ray examination.

Lithotripsy is not recommended during pregnancy, for patients higher than 2,1 m, or lower than 1,22 m, or for patient with weight higher than 136 kg.

Lithotripsy is not used in patients with:

•    life-threatening cardiac diseases,
•    increased blood coagulability,
•    calculi in the osseous pelvis.

Before lithotripsy procedure urologist performs ultrasound examination of kidney and urinary tract. Blood count, urinalysis and blood chemistry tests with blood coagulation evaluation should also be performed as well as kidney plan x-ray.