Lithotripsy is a technique that using shock waves to break up the stone in the kidney and its ureteral extension
“Lithotripsy”
How to break up a kidney stone?
Abbreviations:
o ESWL: Extracorporeal shock wave
lithotripsy,
o Extracorporeal: =
outside the body,
o UTI:
Urinary tract infection,
o Litho: Lithotripsy.
o U/S: Ultrasound,
o UB: Urinary Bladder.
o AB: Antibiotics.
o BTx: blood transfusion,
Litho is a technique
that using shock waves to break
up the stone in the kidney and its ureteral extension (tube carrying
urine from your kidney to your UB).
After the commencing Litho, the tiny particles of these stones
can be discharged out of your body in your urine.
Procedure: ESWL is
the most commonly used type of Litho.
"Extracorporeal” means
outside the body. To prepare you for this procedure, you should be put on a hospital
gown, lying on an examination table on
the top of a soft, water-filled cushion. Don’t
worry, you will not be wet. You will be given certain medication to kill any
pain or helping you to relax before commencing the procedure. You will also start
an AB. With start of the procedure,
you may be administrated general anesthesia to complete the procedure. Whilst sleeping
the procedure will proceed in a painless manner. High-energy
shock waves, also named sound
waves, with the guide of an x-ray or U/S, will
be passed through the body until hitting the kidney stones. If still awaking,
you may feel like a tapping sensation with the start of this process. These
waves will break these stones into minute pieces. The Litho technique
will take about 45
min up to 1 h. A tube-like material called the
stent may be
in place throughout your back or bladder into your kidney. This tube can drain
urine out of your kidney until ALL these small particles of stone passing out
of your body. This may be done prior to or even after you have commenced the Litho therapy.
Why the Procedure is performed: Litho can
be used for removing kidney stones with the following:
1) Bleeding tendency.
2) Kidney damaging.
3) Painful states
4) Persistent UTI.
5)
Not
all types of kidney stones can be treated via Litho. They
can be also be removed via:
1.
Tubing (endoscopic)
inserted into the kidney via a small cut in your back.
2.
Small tubing
(ureteroscope) inserted via UB into the
ureters. Ureters are the tubing connecting your kidneys to the UB.
3. Open surgical interference (rarely applied now).
Associated Risks: Litho is mostly
safe over the time. You can discuss this list of complications with your
clinician:
1. Bleeds around the kidney that may necessitate BTx.
2. Renal (Kidney) infection.
3. Particles of the stone may block urine flow from the
kidney (causing severe pain or harm to the
kidney). If happened, additional interference may be required.
4. Particles of the stone may be left in your body (requiring
more interference).
5. Stomach or small intestinal ulcerations.
6. Decline in kidney function post-interference.
Before the Procedure: inform
your physician about:
o Presence/Absence of a possible pregnancy
o Current medications, even drugs, supplementations, or
herbal medications you get with no prescription
o
Prior
to surgery:
1)
Stop blood
thinner medications e.g., aspirin,
ibuprofen, warfarin (Coumadin), and other medications making
it harder with blood clotting. Ask also about the exact timing of holding
them.
2)
Ask
your clinician which medications you must still taking during the day of the procedure.
o
On the
day of your procedure:
1.
You must
hold drinking and eating anything several hours prior to the procedure.
2.
Take your
medications you allowed to take with a small amount of water.
3.
You
will be informed about the timing of arrival to the hospital.
After
the Procedure: you will be asked to be admitted
in the recovery room up to 2 h.s. Most of the patients
can go home same day of the procedure. You will be provided a urine
strainer to catch up the particles of
stone passing with your urine.
Prognosis: of
this procedure is greatly related to the number of your stones, their sizes,
and their locations in your urinary tract. Litho is
mostly removing ALL the present
stones.
Alternate
Terms: Extracorporeal shock wave Litho;
Shock wave Litho; Laser Litho;
Percutaneous Litho; Endoscopic Litho; ESWL;
Renal calculi- Litho.
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