|  | Conditions Treatments | Kidney Disease

Electric Shock Procedure for Removal of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are not typically a life threatening condition, but they can be extremely painful, and debilitating. Despite the intense pain that often accompany kidney stones, about 90 percent will clear up on their own, according to Health Central. In the remaining cases, medical intervention is necessary to remove the stones or to encourage them to pass through your body. Shock therapy treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that is frequently used to treat large kidney stones.

  1. Understanding Kidney Stones

    • Renal lithiasis, also known as kidney stones, are lumps of minerals, and salt that build up on the kidney walls. The minerals, and salts that make up kidney stones are usually dissolved in urine, but if the urine is too concentrated, they will stick to the kidney wall, and crystallize, forming stones. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is usually difficult to determine exactly why kidney stones develop, though several medications and medical conditions can make you more prone to stones. There are four types of kidney stones, each named for the mineral that makes up the majority of the stone: calcium, struvite, uric acid, and cystine. The type of stone can sometimes give your doctor a clue as to the cause. Likewise, knowing the composition of the stone may be helpful in developing a plan to avoid future kidney stones.

    Shock Therapy Treatment

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, you can pass most kidney stones on your own by drinking two to three quarts of water a day. Apart from pain medication, medical intervention is seldom required. However, when the stones are too large to pass on their own or they cause bleeding or infection, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is often the first line of treatment. First, your doctor will locate your stone using an ultrasound machine. Next, shock waves will be administered to break up the stone into smaller pieces that you can pass out of your body. During the treatment, you will be given a light anesthesia and will either be sitting in water or laying on a cushion. Your doctor will determine which method is best for reaching your stone. You will also need to wear headphones to prevent any hearing loss caused by the loud sound the shock waves make. After the treatment, you will pass the smaller stones out of your body by drinking plenty of water, and exercising, but it could take months before the stones are completely gone.

    Post Shock Therapy Treatment

    • After treatment, you may experience bruising at the treatment site, and blood in your urine. You will also likely experience pain as you pass the kidney stones, so your doctor may recommend over the counter pain medication or prescribe a stronger painkiller. Occasionally, the shock treatment does not break the stone into small enough pieces, in which case you may require another round of treatment. If ESWL still does not break up your kidney stone, your doctor may consider other treatment options.

Kidney Disease - Related Articles