Why lithotripsy is preferred method for removing kidney stones today?

Answer 1

Kidney stones can cause extreme pain and make a person very ill. In the past, kidney stones that did not naturally break up and pass into the urine were removed through major surgery. An incision was made on the flank (side) and extended into the belly and back. The kidney, being infused naturally with many blood vessels, could easily be injured by manipulation or surgical instruments. Recovery from surgery was long and painful, as are most major surgeries.

Then, physicians discovered they could "break up" the stones without ever making a surgical incision. The patient simply lies on a table about the lithotripsy machine and sound waves, guided by a tecnhnician using X-ray, hit the stone until it breaks apart. Using further X--rays, the technician adjusts the directional setting of the sound waves and tracks down larger pieces until each piece is small enough to painlessly (or almost painlessly) pass from the kidney, through the ureter, to the bladder, and out of the body in the urine.

Therefore, lithotripsy is one of the least painful procedures for the "removal" of stones. Patients feel less pain from stones almost immediately. They recover faster. They go home faster, and can resume work faster than if they'd had major surgery. They still need to rest for a few days, but overall, the recovery process is uneventful.