Lithotripsy is a therapy concerning kidney stones and other kinds of stones in the urinary system. It works by generating shock waves to disintegrate the stone into tiny fragments that can be easily expelled. It is considered a non-invasive method of treatment which explains why many patients opt for it because the method is effective and the danger it poses is relatively mild. This paper will examine the procedure in detail, advantages, and disadvantages of the process.
Procedure
Lithotripsy is performed in a hospital or specialized medical facility and typically involves the following steps:
Preparation: These procedures may include ultrasound on the abdomen or CT scan that helps the physicians to establish the size, location and the type of stones. There are certain instructions given to patients concerning the diet before the procedure; most often, the patient is asked not to consume food and liquids for some time before the procedure.
Anesthesia: In this treatment, either local or general anesthesia depends on the type of lithotripsy and the health condition of the patient. This keeps patients as comfortable as possible during the operation.
Shock Wave Generation: The lithotripsy machine produces the shock waves that in turn are aimed at the particular stone.
Stone Fragmentation: The shock waves cause the stone to disintegrate into even smaller pieces meaning that the smaller fragments can be expelled through the urinary track. The procedure commonly lasts up to 45 minutes to an hour on average.
Post-Procedure Care: The treatment of lithotripsy is then followed by a short time of observation of the patients. They may feel some pain and discomfort and are recommended to drink lots of water to help expel any remains of the stone from the body. Keep in contact with your Urologist in Karachi for aftercare following the procedure.
Benefits
Lithotripsy offers several advantages as a treatment for kidney stones:Lithotripsy offers several advantages as a treatment for kidney stones:
Non-Invasive: Among the many positives associated with lithotripsy is the fact that it does not involve any form of surgery and therefore no actual cutting is done on the patient’s skin. We have faster recovery time and less pain than with the traditional surgical procedures that are usually done on patients.
Effectiveness: The use of lithotripsy is very useful in breaking the stones, common fragments are usually passed through urine, by the patient. It is much of help for managing small stones that are less than 2 cm in the ureter.
Minimal Hospital Stay: This method can be safely performed on most patients, and the majority of patients can be discharged the day after the treatment without needing hospitalization.
Preservation of Kidney Function: This is because by crushing the stones, lithotripsy reduces the risk of having complications for example obstruction, infection or Damage to the kidneys tissues hence protecting the function of the kidneys.
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Risks
While lithotripsy is generally safe, there are potential risks and complications associated with the procedure, including:While lithotripsy is generally safe, there are potential risks and complications associated with the procedure, including:
Discomfort and Pain: Some discomfort may be felt during and after administration of the shock waves as they go through the body of the patient. To manage this pain, patients may be given some medications but this may differ based on the specialist that is treating the patient.
Incomplete Fragmentation: Thus, after the treatment there might be some big pieces of the stone left, for which further intervention may be needed.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): It is usual to get UTIs after lithotripsy because there are fragments of the stone within the urinary system. Medications such as antibiotics may be administered to avoid or to control the bacterial infections.
Bleeding: Some patients may develop these complications as; hematuria, which is the passing of blood in the urine in the post-procedure period. This is often a temporary situation, however, any bleeding that significantly upsets the balance, may need further examination.
Organ Damage: Even if one only gets to hear the sound waves, there is a possibility of damage to the surrounding organs or tissues as a result of shock waves if the stone is close to those regions.
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Conclusion
Lithotripsy is one of the commonly applied and efficient solutions to the problem of kidney stone treatment; its advantages include the fact that it is not invasive and does not harm kidneys. However, the possible risks and adversative effects need to be highlighted and discussed with a medical practitioner for proper advice. Kidney stones hence, if one develops any of the symptoms including severe pain, blood in urine, and frequent urination, needs to consult his physician for further assessment. To get this procedure you can consult a Best Urologist in Lahore.