Kidney stones are a common medical condition experienced by millions of people each year. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, and many types of treatments can be used to get rid of the stones. One of these is shock wave lithotripsy, or SWL for short. This treatment involves using high-energy sound waves to break up the stones so that they can be passed more easily from the body. In this blog post, we’ll cover all you need to know about SWL, including how it works, its effectiveness, and potential side effects.
How Does SWL Work?
Shock wave lithotripsy is an intra-operative procedure that utilizes high-energy sound waves to break down kidney stones into smaller pieces. During the procedure, a doctor will position an ultrasound probe over the affected kidney area and then fire off shock waves directed at the stone. These shock waves create vibrations that cause tiny cracks in the stone’s surface, eventually breaking it down into small enough particles that can pass through the urinary system without any issues.
What are the benefits?
The main benefit of shock wave lithotripsy is that it’s a relatively painless procedure with few side effects. It avoids having to open up your abdomen or use any invasive instruments like scopes or lasers which can cause scarring and other complications. Additionally, SWL has been found to be effective in treating most types of kidney stones, including calcium oxalate stones (the most common type).
Are there any risks?
Like with any medical procedure, there are some potential risks associated with SWL. Some patients may experience minor side effects such as bruising or swelling around the treatment area due to trauma caused by the shockwaves. Additionally, some patients may experience temporary changes in their urine color due to blood being present in their urine after treatment. Finally, there is also a risk of infection if bacteria enter the bloodstream during treatment so proper sanitation protocols must be followed during and after treatment.
Are there alternatives?
For those who don’t want to undergo shock wave lithotripsy or are not good candidates for it due to medical reasons, there are other options available such as medication or even surgery in some cases. Depending on your individual situation and preferences your doctor will be able to advise you on what option is best for you taking into account factors such as size and location of your stone(s) as well as age and overall health condition.
Summarizing
Shock wave lithotripsy is an effective and non-invasive way of treating kidney stones without having to resort to more extreme measures such as surgery or medication in some cases. While there are some risks associated with it such as bruising and infection, these risks are minimal when compared with other forms of treatment for kidney stones.
