Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL)

ABOUT ESWL

What is ESWL?

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), is a non-invasive procedure performed to break up kidney stones.

 

It uses high-energy shock waves to break up stones into smaller pieces that can be passed out of the body through urine.

Why is ESWL required?

ESWL can be used to break up kidney stones which are still in the kidney, before they start to cause symptoms. This can prevent them from going on to cause symptoms such as pain.

 

ESWL can also be used to break up stones which have started to move down the ureter (tube between the kidney and the bladder).

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are rock-like crystals which form in the kidneys from the salts and minerals in urine. Kidney stones can cause pain when the flow of urine is blocked by a stone which has moved from the kidney into the ureter.
PATIENT JOURNEY

What does ESWL involve?

ESWL is performed under general anaesthetic (completely asleep). It is a non-invasive procedure – there are no cuts made.

 

Xray or ultrasound are used to locate the kidney stone.

 

Shockwaves are passed through the skin of the back and focussed on the location of the stone. Up to 4000 shockwaves may be used in one session of ESWL.

What does ESWL involve?

The kidney stone is broken up into small fragments which are passed in the urine over the next few days.

 

The procedure is usually performed as day surgery – you can go home on the same day of the surgery as long as you are accompanied by a responsible adult.

What is the recovery after ESWL?

You will have soreness of the back and a graze where the shockwaves have passed through the skin.

 

Sometimes there will be some pain as the fragments of kidney stone pass from the kidney, down the ureter, into the bladder.

 

You will be given instructions for pain relief to take after the procedure.

 

You may have blood in the urine for few days after the procedure.

 

You may notice small fragments of kidney stone passing in the urine.

 

It is usually safe to drive 24 hours after the procedure.

 

You can usually return to work one to two days after the procedure.

OUR TEAM

The following doctors in our practice perform ESWL:

Dr Peter Burke

Dr Peter Burke

Urologist
Dr Katherine Gray

Dr Katherine Gray

Urologist
Dr Tim Smith

Dr Tim Smith

Urologist
Dr Andrew Keller

Dr Andrew Keller

Urologist
Dr Anojan Navaratnam

Dr Anojan Navaratnam

Urologist
Dr Glen Wood

Dr Glen Wood

Urologist
Dr Gregory Malone

Dr Gregory Malone

Urologist
Dr Jason Paterdis

Dr Jason Paterdis

Urologist
Dr Jonathan Chambers

Dr Jonathan Chambers

Urologist

Book an appointment

Book an appointment to discuss this procedure with one of our doctors.