Question 1

what are some advantages of lithotripsy?

Accepted Answer

Quicker recovery: In the old days, we did open surgery for stones where we made an incision and removed the stone. You were typically in the hospital a few days and had to recover from the incision. With eswl, you are normally treated as an outpatient and able to return to work in a couple of days.

Question 2

why do they knock you out for a lithotripsy?

Accepted Answer

Pain from procedure: Shock waves are typically applied through an interface brought into direct contact with the skin of the flank region on the side of interest.  When shock waves are delivered, they can be quite uncomfortable.  Anesthesia is needed to keep the patient comfortable, but also to help the patient stay still so that the shock waves can remain focused on the stone to maximize the chances of fragmenting it

Question 3

anyone had lithotripsy done? what should i do?

Accepted Answer

ESWL: Eswl treatment is performed under sedation on an outpatient  basis.  There will be some mild post-procedure discomfort and some blood in the urine.  Passage of fragments may cause pain requiring narcotic analgesia.

Question 4

why is it that they put you under for a lithotripsy?

Accepted Answer

Minimize distress: Lithotripsy requires intubations through delicate and sensitive areas.  These can be painful and there is enhanced pain from the inflammation of the kidney/ureteral stone.  Also the instrument has to be carefully aimed to just fragment the stone and minimize damage to the normal tissue and this is more easily achieved while the patient is under anesthesia.

Question 5

what is the definition or description of: lithotripsy?

Accepted Answer

Shock waves : It is a medical procedure which uses shock waves to break up stones in kidney or ureter, sa these can pass out with the urine.

Question 6

is there a shot or an i.v. involved when doing a lithotripsy?

Accepted Answer

Yes: You receive intravenous sedation (and be glad that it's available!).

Question 7

what medications are administered for lithotripsy (before/during/prescribed after)?

Accepted Answer

Meds: before; flomax (tamsulosin) (or equivalent meds), may be an anxiolytic or non steroidal anti inflammatory pain medication.        After: flomax (tamsulosin) (or equivalent) and NSAID if needed.     The only other new med(s) depend on the stone analysis

Question 8

what is lithotripsy surgery?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of stones.: Lithotripsy is the process by which stones in the urinary tract are broken into small fragments. 'lithotripsy surgery' are procedures where small instruments are used to deliver mechanical, electro-hydraulic, or laser disruption of stones. Access is gained through the bladder (cystoscopy, ureteroscopy), a small flank incision (pcnl), or sometimes by laparoscopy.

Question 9

where do i go to get an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy done?

Accepted Answer

Urologist: Presumably you have a stone in your renal pelvis or ureter which will not spontaneously pass.  Hopefully this has been diagnosed and the doctor who did this can recommend a urologist with access to the equipment for the lithotripsy.

Question 10

does lithotripsy damage/destroy kidney cells?  may need another lithotripsy.

Accepted Answer

Lithotripsy: Lithptripsy is quite safe however damage may be seen in the corticomedullary region in relation to the vasculat tissue hence bllod in the urine after this procedure can be noted.

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Doctor answers about:

Lithotripsy

A member asked:

What are some advantages of lithotripsy?

A member asked:

Why do they knock you out for a lithotripsy?

A member asked:

Anyone had lithotripsy done? what should i do?

A member asked:

Why is it that they put you under for a lithotripsy?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: lithotripsy?

A member asked:

Is there a shot or an i.v. involved when doing a lithotripsy?

A member asked:

What medications are administered for lithotripsy (before/during/prescribed after)?

A member asked:

What is lithotripsy surgery?

A member asked:

Where do i go to get an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy done?

A member asked:

Does lithotripsy damage/destroy kidney cells? may need another lithotripsy.

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