We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Pros and Cons of Lithotripsy for Kidney Stones?

By Meshell Powell
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 14,490
Share

Lithotripsy is a type of medical procedure that uses shock waves to help break up large kidney stones into smaller fragments that can then pass on their own. This type of procedure is not the ideal treatment for everyone, and there are definite pros and cons concerning lithotripsy for kidney stones. Some benefits of this type of procedure include pain relief, being able to avoid a more invasive surgical procedure, and reducing the chances of developing a urinary blockage or damage to the kidney. Some potential cons of lithotripsy for kidney stones include potential complications such as kidney infections or kidney damage due to the procedure.

Lithotripsy for kidney stones is usually considered for larger stones, as smaller stones will usually pass on their own without any type of medical intervention. Large stones can cause increased pain, and this pain can sometimes be completely incapacitating. Larger stones also have a higher risk of becoming lodged in the tubes, called ureters, that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. When this happens, kidney damage is likely to occur. Lithotripsy for kidney stones may be a good option for those with large kidney stones, especially if the stones are causing any kind of urinary blockage.

Other pros when considering lithotripsy for kidney stones that do not pass on their own include being able to avoid a more invasive surgery and reduce the amount of pain. If the stones cannot pass on their own or a blockage is present, the only other option is usually an open surgery, which may require several days in the hospital and a lengthy recovery time. Lithotripsy rarely takes more than an hour, and recovery is generally relatively quick. Once large stones have been broken into smaller pieces, pain relief may be immediate, at least to some degree.

Complications from lithotripsy for kidney stones are possible and should be noted. Some of the fragments may get lodged in one of the ureters, causing a urinary blockage. Bleeding and damage to the kidney may occur as a result of this procedure as well. Another potential con to choosing lithotripsy for kidney stones is that one treatment is often not enough. Patients who have a kidney disease or other medical condition that causes cysts to develop in the kidneys are not candidates for this procedure, as the cysts could rupture, potentially causing an emergency medical situation and permanent damage to the kidney.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-lithotripsy-for-kidney-stones.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.