Overview

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a way to break up kidney and upper ureteral stones without cutting into the body. It works by sending focused high-energy shock waves from outside the body to break stones into smaller pieces. These pieces can then naturally move through the urinary tract in the urine. ESWL is one of the least invasive ways to treat kidney stones because it doesn't require any cuts. Most of the time, this procedure is done in a hospital or a specialised treatment centre. It works best for small to medium-sized stones. Most of the time, the procedure is done on an outpatient basis.

Why It's Done
People get ESWL to remove kidney stones that hurt, block urine flow, bleed, or become infected and are unlikely to pass on their own. It is best to do this when the stones are big enough to cause symptoms but small enough to be broken up easily. The goal is to ease pain, get the urine flow back to normal, and avoid problems like kidney damage.

What to Expect?
Before ESWL, imaging tests such as ultrasound or CT scans are performed to confirm the stone is the right size and in the right place. To check for infection and see how well the kidneys are working, blood and urine tests are done. Patients might be told to stop taking certain medicines, such as blood thinners. The patient lies on a treatment table during the procedure, and imaging helps the doctor aim shock waves at the stone exactly. For comfort, sedation or light anaesthesia may be given. The procedure usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Patients may see blood in their urine, feel mild pain in their backs, or pass small stone pieces over the next few days after treatment. To help pass fragments, it is recommended to drink a lot of fluids.

Recovery & Outlook
Most patients can return to their normal activities within 1 to 2 days. As fragments pass, mild discomfort may last for a short time. ESWL works very well for the right kinds of stones and is a safe, non-surgical option that doesn't require much time to heal.