By Hadley Gavin
Struggling with a kidney stone? You may have heard of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) as a treatment option. This minimally invasive procedure has been used for many years to break down and remove kidney stones from the body. Here, we discuss the benefits of utilizing eswl for kidney stones treatment.
Effective and Non-Invasive
ESWL is considered an effective method for treating kidney stones that are already present in the ureter or bladder. This procedure offers a non-invasive option for removing these stones, as it does not require any incisions or general anesthesia—you will only be asked to take pain medication beforehand. Additionally, since it is minimally invasive, recovery time is much shorter compared to other surgical options.
Safe and Quick Procedure
The procedure itself is relatively quick—it usually takes around 45 minutes to complete per session. During this time, you will lie on your back while the ESWL machine sends sound waves through your body in order to break up the stones into small pieces that can be excreted naturally through urine. The entire process is very safe as well; there are no major risks involved with undergoing ESWL treatment.
No Hospital Stay Necessary
Unlike other surgical options available for treating kidney stones, ESWL does not require you to stay in the hospital overnight. In fact, most patients can go home shortly after their treatment session ends. This makes it convenient for those who need quick relief from their kidney stones but do not want to stay in the hospital for days at a time waiting for recovery.
Practical Option For Small Stones
Another perk of using ESWL as a means of treating kidney stones is that it works best when dealing with smaller stones (less than 1 cm). If your stone is larger than this size then you may need additional treatments such as ureteroscopy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). However, if you have small stones then ESWL is likely the best course of action since it requires no surgery and offers more immediate relief without having to wait weeks or months to recover like with traditional surgery methods.
Last Words
All things considered, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) provides an effective and non-invasive solution for treating smaller-sized kidney stones quickly and safely without requiring surgery or an extended hospital stay. If you have been diagnosed with a kidney stone, talk to your doctor about whether this procedure may be right for you based on its various benefits discussed above!
