Lithotripsy is the process of fragmenting stones formed in the urinary track. The fragmented urinary stones can then be passed out along with the urine.

This section will discuss Intracorporeal lithotripsy where the fragmenting energy is generated within the body structures, Intracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ISWL), as opposed to Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) where the fragmenting energy is generated outside the body and then focused upon the stone.

Advances in Lithotripsy have made stone disease management more effective and less traumatic for patients by:

• Being minimally invasive
• Shortening hospital stays
• Not requiring open surgery
• Reducing pain and patient discomfort
• Allowing stone disease to be to be treated on an outpatient basis at specialized urology centers

The Urology Center uses the VersaPulse PowerSuite holmium laser by Lumenis pictured above for the treatment of kidney stones.