Lithotripsy - Urology

Lithotripsy Treatment Abroad

Lithotripsy is a non-surgical and non-invasive procedure to treat kidney stones, gallbladder stones, or stones found in the urinary bladder or ureters and even the liver. If you've ever experienced the pain of such blockages, you should know about this procedure. Lithotripsy is considered one of the safest and most effective methods of treating kidney stones, whether they're formed by a buildup of calcium or sodium deposits. Each has the potential to block passageways and cause mild to extreme pain.

The lithotripsy procedure effectively disintegrates/dissolves/fragments kidney or gallbladder stones through shock wave therapy, reducing pain and allows adequate excretion of urine out of the body. Fragmenting calcium, stones, sodium deposits or stones such as gall stones enables them to pass through the bile duct (in the case the gallbladder; ureters in the case of kidney stones), and then to be excreted out of the body in the urine flow.

The procedure has been used since the early 1980s, and today is the primary treatment for a variety of calcifications or stones found in digestive and urinary organs in the body.

Types of Lithotripsy

• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
• Shock wave lithotripsy
• Laser lithotripsy
• Percutaneous lithotripsy
• Endoscopic lithotripsy

Causes of kidney stones

Kidney stones often have no exact, single cause. There are several factors that may increase the risk of developing them. Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances (calcium, oxalate and uric acid) than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.

Symptoms of kidney stones

• Pink, red or brown urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent need to urinate
• Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain on urination
• Urinating more often than usual
• Fever and chills if an infection is present
• Urinating small amounts of urine

How Lithotripsy Works

The most common form of lithotripsy is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). ESWL has been around since the early 1980s and it quickly replaced surgery as the treatment of choice for larger kidney stones.

Before the procedure you should tell your doctor about any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or supplements you take. Certain drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or blood thinners can interfere with the blood’s ability to clot properly. He/she will probably ask you to stop taking these medications well before the procedure. Stop taking the drugs only if the doctor says so.

You can have the procedure either under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. If you’re going to be under general anesthesia, your doctor may tell you to not drink or eat anything for at least six hours before the procedure. You should also ask someone close to drive you home after the procedure. General anesthesia may make you drowsy after lithotripsy, so you shouldn’t drive until the effects have fully worn off.

During the procedure a device called a lithotripter utilizes a high-intensity acoustic pulse to fragment or destroy the stone with minimal damage to surrounding tissues. First, the patient is placed on a bed (the procedure is nearly painless and can nearly always be performed when patient is awake). The stone is located through the use of fluoroscopic or ultrasound imaging. An acoustic pulse is then generated within the device, which emits shock waves aimed at the stone’s position. The frequency of gap pulses depend on the location and size of the stone, as well as pain tolerance of the patient.

Lithotripsy may be more painful for patients if stone is located near a bone (such as a rib in the case of a kidney stone), as the pulses often reverberate off bone, which cause mild resonance that the patient can feel. It’s not severe pain, more like getting flicked with a finger. In some cases, a patient may be sedated when higher pulse frequencies are desired, such as 120 pulses or shocks a minute, which can grate on a patient’s nerves.

Lithotripsy takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform. After lithotripsy, stone debris is removed from the kidneys or the ureter (tube leading from the kidney to the bladder) through urination.

Benefits of Lithotripsy

A lithotripsy is a noninvasive procedure that treats all kinds of stones, and in many cases, kidney stones specifically. Shock waves or ultrasonic energy (the therapy is called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or ESWL) are directed over the stone location after undergoing the above-mentioned fluoroscopy or ultrasound.

Cost of Lithotripsy Procedure

Cost of a lithotripsy procedure in the U.S. depends on the type of stone being treated, it’s size and location. Because it’s so specialized, a lithotripsy procedure in the U.S. can cost an average of $17,000, though you can find some for about $5,000, depending on the size of the stone. In India, you can receive the same procedure for about $1,300 and in Singapore for about $2,650.

Patients who opt for lithotripsy should be aware that there is an approximately fifty-percent chance that stones will reappear within five years.

Finding a Surgeon

An urologist is a doctor who has specialized in training in branches of surgery to the kidneys, bladder, or urethra, male reproductive organs or pelvic surgery. Choose a surgeon who has undergone basic and comprehensive education in general surgery, who then undergoes additional training in urology, a surgical subspecialty. He or she should be approved to practice in accredited healthcare facilities or hospitals. Specialists should be experienced and knowledgeable regarding specific conditions.

If you want to find out more about the Lithotripsy procedure, please contact us!