How Ultrasound Is Used to Break Down Kidney Stones
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Stones
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Kidney stones are calcium deposits that harden in the urinary tract. They can be very painful to pass through the system, which is one of the most common means of extracting the stones. According to the National Institutes of Health, kidney stones bring more than half a million people to emergency rooms each year. Crystals that separate from urine form the hardened stones that cause the pain. While they remain small enough, kidney stones can pass unnoticed through the urinary tract. Medication can be used to disperse the stones or shock waves can be delivered by ultrasound to break up the stones so they can pass through with urine. As larger stones move through the urinary tract, they become lodged and create severe pain in the back and lower abdomen near the kidneys. Blood may begin to show in the urine and as the stone moves through to the bladder, the patient feels the need to urinate more often.
Ultrasound Waves
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Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a common treatment for kidney stones that uses shock waves outside the body to break down the stones into smaller pieces that can more easily be eliminated. The shock waves pass through the skin to the stones. Doctors use an ultrasound device to locate the stones and direct the shocks. The procedure is typically done on an outpatient basis and has a high success rate. Patients usually can return to normal activities within a couple days. Possible side effects from ESWL include blood in the urine for a few days following the treatment. Bruising of the back and abdomen can result from the shocks that traveled through the areas. If there are a lot of small stones, urinating may be uncomfortable as the stones pass. Multiple ESWL treatments may be required for large stones that don't respond to the first round of shocking.
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Heavy Shocks
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If ESWL does not break up the kidney stones, a more radical approach may be required. A procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy is used to send the ultrasound shock waves through an incision, putting the waves directly in contact with the kidney stones. This procedure is 98 percent effective and is useful when treating people who are obese or who have had a stone lodged in the urinary tract for more than 4 weeks. A doctor makes an incision in the back and forms a tunnel to the kidneys. Once the stones have been shocked into bits, the surgeon can remove the pieces directly through the incision. For very large stones, ultrasound shock waves can be sent to the stone over a few days. Patients typically remain in the hospital for 5 or 6 days following this procedure while a tube remains in place to drain the area and to leave a path to go back in if more stones are discovered.
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