Six different treatment options
1. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
Shock wave lithotripsy is often used to treat kidney stones. It is one of the most important technological advances in kidney stone treatment. It has a success rate of 98%.
All lithotripters are not alike. There is a new lithotripter that is dramatically better than others. Older machines use technology that's about 20 years old. They require a substantial amount of anesthesia, more x-rays, and a water bath. Not only does the new lithotripter allow you to skip the water bath, and probably the anesthesia, it treats more types of kidney stones (including those especially painful ones in the ureter) and can cut treatment time in half!
In shock wave lithotripsy, a machine called a lithotripter is used to generate a shock wave outside of the body. The shock wave is focused on the kidney stone, which breaks into tiny pieces and passes painlessly. This is an outpatient procedure.
The more advanced lithotripters do not require general anesthesia or water baths. In addition, they can treat stones in the ureter, avoiding ureteroscopy.