Urinary lithiasis

Urinary lithiasis is the third most common disease after urinary tract infections and pathological conditions of the prostate gland. The average lifelong risk of lithiasis is 4-7%. This disease is more common in men (a ratio of about 3:1), with an increase in the third and fourth decades of life.

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Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has revolutionized the treatment of urinary lithiasis since the mid-80's. ESWL has become universally accepted due to:

• Its ease of use
• Its non-invasive nature
• Its high effectiveness in the treatment of renal and ureteral stones that reaches 65-90% for kidney stones and 70-85% for ureteral stones, depending on the size and composition of the stone

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Modern Lithotripsy Unit

Third-generation lithotripter STORZ MODULITH SLX-F2

Since March 2008, one of the most modern Lithotripsy Units with the third-generation lithotripter STORZ MODULITH SLX-F2 was installed and operates at St. Luke's Hospital. This lithotripter uses electromagnetic waves for fragmentation of the stone and is the only double focus lithotripter. 

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How is the method of extracorporeal lithotripsy with shock waves (ESWL) performed?

Procedure

The total treatment time is about forty-five minutes. During lithotripsy, short-acting medications are used for analgesia, and the whole process is characterized as painless. The specialist urologist locates the exact position of the stone fluoroscopically (C-arm) and / or by ultrasound. Shock waves follow. The total number of shock waves is two to three thousand impacts per case. Once the fragments are small enough to pass through the urinary tract, the process will end. The patient is discharged after a few hours. 

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Other methods of treatment of urinary lithiasis

Other methods we use in the Urology Department for the treatment of urinary lithiasis include:

• Urethroscopy, cystoscopy or ureteroscopy. These are endoscopic methods, in which the urologist removes the stone(s), inserting a cystoscope into the patient's urethra, under local anesthesia, and placing it up to the ureters. Thus, he can locate the stone with great accuracy and remove it endoscopically. 
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. It is a surgical operation involving stones that cannot be treated with lithotripsy or endoscopic intervention. It involves the removal of a stone through a thin tube called a nephroscope that is inserted into the kidney through a small incision.
• Open surgery. It is the most invasive method that requires a larger incision for immediate access and treatment of the problem.
• Stent. The stent is an intraluminal splint that allows the stones to "pass" more easily, keeping the lumen of the ureter open. 

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