How Does the Lithotripter Machine Work?

Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for brief, is just a commonly used non-invasive option to surgery for treating kidney stones.

The procedure is performed under sedation or anaesthetic on the lithotripsy bus. It functions by focusing high energy acoustic pulses that pass through the skin and disintegrate the stones. The sand-like fragments may then pass out of the body in urine. More info visit about lithotripter machine.

While a large proportion of stones in the urinary tract may be treated successfully with lithotripsy, some are resistant to this method and may demand a repeat or alternative treatment.

Lithotripsy has the benefit of typically an even faster recovery than conventional stone surgery.

Before your Operation

The operation and outcomes is likely to be explained for your requirements by your urologist. Once you feel comfortable that you understand what will be done and have experienced all of your questions answered, you is likely to be asked to sign a consent form. This consent form must certanly be signed by both yourself and your surgeon and forwarded to a medical facility at the very least five days prior to your admission.

If you're over 60, or have other medical conditions, you may even need an electrocardiogram (ECG) to test the health of your heart prior to surgery.

Operation day

You is likely to be required to come to a medical facility approximately two hours prior to your treatment. This will be confirmed by a medical facility your day before your admission.

On arrival you'll be used through pre-admission requirements and shown to your room.

An x-ray of one's abdomen might be performed to test the location of the stone

If it is time for treatment a nurse will escort you from the ward to the Lithotripsy bus which is set up outside a medical facility, where you'll meet with the urologist.

After prone on the lithotripter machine work, a drip is inserted in to a vein in your arm. Through this drip the anaesthetist can give you sedation medicine and treatment during the therapy depending in your individual requirements.

You is likely to be positioned so that you are in the best place for treatment. A rubber pad covered with a special gel is put against the skin. Using ultrasound or x-ray guidance, the shock waves are dedicated to the stone and treatment will begin.

The lithotripsy machine makes a sound like a hammer tapping.

The treatment normally lasts between 1 to 1.5 hours. At the end of the treatment you will be transferred to a wheelchair and taken to the ward for recovery.

Recovery

You will go to day surgery area after the procedure. Once able, you is likely to be encouraged to drink lots of fluid to help flushing out the stone fragments.

It's common to have a little nausea immediately following the therapy but this is usually resolved by the time of discharge.

After an amount of observation you is likely to be discharged home. Some cases may require an overnight stay. Usually work and other normal activities might be resumed the next day should you feel able. You are able to discuss this along with your urologist.

After discharge

You could eat and drink normally following this treatment and it is important to steadfastly keep up a great fluid intake.

Stone fragments will pass out of the body to the urine. Occasionally this will cause discomfort and pain while they travel out. You is likely to be given a prescription for treatment in case this happens.

You will receive a follow-up appointment to see your specialist at six weeks to go over the outcome of one's treatment. Prior to this you could have an x-ray to test the stone has passed.