Patients being treated with the lithotripter are administered anesthesia before being positioned in a hydrolic-powered gantry, and then partially immersed in a large tub of warm water. The physician utilizes a computerized X-ray system to pinpoint the exact location of the kidney stone. The physician moves the gantry until the stone is in the correct position for treatment. An electrode at the base of the tub creates shock waves that fragment the stone into small particles. Many patients go home the same day of the ESWL treatment, but it is not unusual for a patient to require an overnight stay in the hospital.
Most patients can expect to be back to full activity within a week.
ESWL costs are covered by most medical insurance carriers. Most patients who have stones in the kidney and ureter are lithotripsy candidates. A potential patient's urologist can determine his or her candidacy for treatment. Children and some adults of unusual size may not be candidates for lithotripsy. Other contraindications to treatment with ESWL might include a kidney with little or no function, an uncontrolled urinary tract infection or a life-threatening cardiac condition.