When minerals or other substances in the body crystallize, they form solid masses called stones. Stones differ in size, shapes and type. They usually exit the body while urinating. But some heavy, larger stones block and damage your blood vessels. Lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones in the kidney, ureter, or bladder.
To get ready for lithotripsy procedure, you will have to put on a hospital gown and lie on the examination table. You will be given medicine for relieving pain or to help your body relax before beginning the procedure. Sometimes, your doctor also gives you antibiotics. The procedure will be carried out under general anesthesia. You will be asleep and pain free during the procedure.
In Lithotripsy procedure, high-energy shock waves guided by X-ray or ultrasound, will be passed through your body until they hit the kidney or gallbladder stones. These high-energy shock waves are sound waves. The sound waves break the solid masses (stones) into tiny pieces. These tiny pieces can be discarded from your body through urination.
A lithotripsy procedure should require 45 minutes to one hour. If there is more than one kidney or gallbladder stone present, same procedure will be repeated and the process may take longer to complete.
Your doctor will leave a tube through your bladder or back into your kidney. This tube will drain urine from your kidney until all the tiny pieces of stones pass out of your body.
You need a lithotripsy treatment to discard kidney stones from your body that cause:
After carrying out lithotripsy procedure, you will be asked to stay at the hospital for at-least two hours. Your doctor will provide you a urine strainer to catch or collect the bits of stones passed in your urine.