Your Treatment

Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a procedure whereby shockwaves are used to break stones in the kidney or ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder) into small pieces so that you may pass them in your urine. ESWL is usually done while you are under anesthesia, on a dry table, and a water cushion is used to transmit the shockwaves.

You may also have a cystoscopy and the placement of a ureteral stent during your procedure. Cystoscopy is where the urologist passes a small scope through the urethra to look inside the bladder. A stent is a temporary plastic tube placed in the ureter so that the kidney may drain urine properly during the passage of the stone fragments.

Some patients may have in addition to the cystoscopy, a ureteroscopy. During a ureteroscopy, a very thin scope is passed through the urethra and up the ureter to aid in stone removal. Many times, a stent is left in the ureter after a ureteroscopy to ensure good kidney drainage.