Nephrolithiasis is a metabolic disorder in which there is accumulation of substances used by the body (such as calcium and uric acid) crystals that generate solid and form stones within the kidneys and urinary tract.
Sometimes these stones or stones do not cause symptoms. But most of the time this diagnosis in patients with severe renal colic may occur in the upper abdomen radiating to the genitalia and lower extremities, and frequent urinary tract infections.
The extracorporeal lithotripsy can destroy kidney stones that do not require surgery by direct exposure of the calculation of shock waves that dissolve making them grit that is then eliminated in the urine.
There are two ways to administer the shock wave therapy.
* In the first, the patient is immersed in a tub of warm water and then locate the calculations are detected by ultrasound or x-rays to proceed.
* The second and more conventional one in which the patient lies on a cushion or membrane through which the waves radiate. Both methods are between 45 and 60 minutes.
The biggest advantage of this treatment is that the patient can be treated without invasive surgery, thus avoiding postoperative complications. The patient’s recovery time and costs are much lower. Anesthesia is not needed, the patient may be sedated or receive local anesthetic to reduce discomfort.
The patient can return to your normal diet immediately but it is advisable to drink plenty of water to facilitate removal of powdered calculations.
The pain that occurs when the calculations are sprayed from the urine and can last up to eight weeks after treatment. These are treated with oral analgesics. Most patients have blood in the urine during the first three days after treatment.
Not all kidney stone patients are eligible for lithotripsy treatment and sometimes does not remove all the calculations and the patient requires additional treatment and beyond.
The prognosis after treatment depends on the location and size calculations.
The patient candidate for this treatment must provide a complete medical history especially in relation to drugs being taken, previous surgeries, implants, and chances of pregnancy as these factors may be contraindicated for this procedure.