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Lithotripsy: effective treatment against kidney stones

Lithotripsy: effective treatment against kidney stones

Edited by: TOP DOCTORS® at 10/10/2023

Lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses shock waves to spray stones from the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract. It is a word derived from the Greek lithos stone and Latin terere, to crush.

Dr. Translation and Localization

kidney stones There are different modalities of lithotripsy that are applied according to the size, consistency, shape and location of the stone in the urinary tract. Different lithotripsy devices are used, which apply different energies, with the common purpose of destroying urinary stones without the need to practice open surgery that was performed more than 35 years ago. This lithotripsy technique was discovered and started to be used in patients in 1980 in Germany by Dornier Medizintechnik GmbH, a company now known as Dornier Medtech 1, with the introduction on the market of the HM-3 lithotripter, a procedure known as LITOTRICIA EXTRACORPOREA PERO DOS SHOCK, which is used to disintegrate kidney stones, or upper urinary tract.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

It is called extracorporeal because it is used outside the patient's body. The stone is identified by means of special x-ray equipment, with fluoroscopy and / or ultrasonography. The machine emits ultrasonic waves, which pass through the body, until they collide with the calculations. These waves produce two mechanical forces in the stones: 1. Direct force associated with the high amplitude of the shock wave, generating a sudden pressure change and 2.- Cavitation bubbles around the calculation, which fragments it into tiny particles of stone like sand that pass easily through the urinary ducts, aided by the urine of the patient.

The patient lies down on an examination table, on a soft cushion filled with water; are given sedatives and antibiotics to prevent pain and infection. This procedure lasts from 45 to 60 minutes; then the patient will go to the recovery room for a couple of hours to be monitored while the effect of the sedatives ends. You are given medications and general recommendations to take home.

This modern procedure avoids the major open surgery that was practiced before this extraordinary technology.

Types of lithotripsy

There are other lithotripsy modalities to solve urinary calculations, depending on the site, shape and size of the stones.

Percutaneous lithotripsy : When the stones are larger than 2 centimeters and are lodged in the kidney cavities. A puncture is performed through the patient's skin in the renal region, assisted or guided with fluoroscopy (X-ray) or ultrasonography, and different lenses and equipment are introduced: laser, electro-hydraulic, sonic or ballistic, according to the equipment and calculation that is found as well as the preference and dominion of each Urologist. These methods destroy and extract kidney stones.

lithos

Ureterolithotricia: To destroy calculi of the ureters, using the mentioned energy modalities and the special lenses called ureterorenoscopios, that can be rigid or flexible.

litos_2 Cystotomyotomy: To resolve bladder stones; in the same way using the different energies commented and here using a thicker lens called Cystoscope that can also be rigid or flexible.

litos_3

Uretrolitotricia : For calculations of the urethra, using the 0 degree lens for direct horizontal vision, with the different energies already mentioned.

litos_4

 

Urology in Guadalajara