Experimental Experience Animals have been treated experimentally with shock waves several times more powerful than those currently used to treat humans. Careful examination of the animals revealed no significant organ or tissue damage to the urinary tract from shock waves. Shock wave treatments have now been used safely in humans for over 15 years and was approved for use on humans by the United States Food and Drug Administration in December 1984. Many thousands of patients have now been treated and ESWL is now accepted as the treatment of choice for patients with stones of the kidneys and upper ureters. In most cases, the residual stones caused no symptoms.
Some patients experience pain, fever, or intestinal upset as the stone particles pass.
These symptoms, however, are usually mild, short in duration, and respond well to mild pain killing drugs. In almost all instances, this resolves spontaneously without specific treatment. No other clinically significant problems occur with any regularity. Candidates Any patient with a stone of the kidney or upper ureter is a candidate. In some instances, combination treatment using ESWL may be needed.