The main advantage of this treatment is that many patients may be treated for kidney stones without surgery. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this treatment? The complete treatment takes about 45 to 60 minutes. About 1-2 thousand shock waves are needed to crush the stones. In the second, more common method, the patient lies on top of a soft cushion or membrane through which the waves pass. Using x-rays or ultrasound to pinpoint the location of the stones, the body is positioned so that the stones are targeted precisely. In one method, the patient is placed in a tub of lukewarm water. There are two ways to remove stones using shock wave treatment. Because of their small size, these pieces can pass from the body along with the urine. Instead, high energy shock waves are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of sand.

What is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy?Įxtracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a technique for treating stones in the kidney and ureter that does not require surgery.

Shockwave after effects