Even Urologists Get Kidney Stones: An Essential Guide to Kidney Stone Treatment and Prevention by Evan R. Goldfischer

Author:Evan R. Goldfischer [Goldfischer, Evan R.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: ERG Urology
Published: 2018-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

Are You a Candidate for SWL?

As I stated before, SWL is used to break up stones that are smaller than 2 centimeters, and ideally less than 1 centimeter so it is not blocking urine flow to the bladder. Even then, multiple treatments may be needed to “blast” all of the stones.

Many other factors also come into play when determining whether SWL is appropriate for a patient. Your surgeon will determine where the stone is lodged in your urinary tract and consider if the stone’s size, shape, and type are conducive to treatment. For example, certain types of stones, such as cysteine and some calcium stones, are extremely dense and can be difficult to break up. Therefore, SWL is not usually recommended. If you have a uric acid stone, your surgeon may determine it’s not visible on a plain x-ray and may opt for another treatment, or utilize a special technique along with SWL.

And, since x-rays and soundwaves are necessary for SWL, pregnant women are never treated with this procedure. It is also not recommended for those who are obese because increased body tissue can make it difficult for the surgeon to see and correctly target the stone for the procedure.

Here are some other reasons why SWL may not be an option if you have:

Poor health

Infected urine

Obstruction of the kidney

Bleeding disorder

Unable to take some type of anesthesia

Narrowing of the urinary tract

Infection

Severe skeletal abnormalities

Cardiac pacemaker

Certain medical conditions

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