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Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy (EHL) is a medical procedure which uses targeted shockwaves to break up kidney stones and gallstones. [1] This form of extracorporeal lithotripsy is unique in that the shockwaves are produced by a vaporization bubble expanding and collapsing repeatedly, creating a pressure wave. [1]
Some of the passed fragments of a 1-cm calcium oxalate stone that was smashed using lithotripsy. The most common use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is for lithotripsy to treat kidney stones [3] (urinary calculosis) and biliary calculi (stones in the gallbladder or in the liver) using an acoustic pulse.
Lithotripsy is a procedure involving the physical destruction of hardened masses like kidney stones, [1] bezoars [2] or gallstones, which may be done non-invasively. The term is derived from the Greek words meaning "breaking (or pulverizing) stones" (litho-+ τρίψω [tripso]).
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy involves focused, high-energy ultrasound pulses that can be used to break solid masses into fragments. [10] This is often utilized to break up calculi such as kidney stones and gallstones into pieces small enough to be passed from the body without undue difficulty, a procedure known as lithotripsy. The success ...
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a non-invasive method to manage gallstones that uses high-energy sound waves to disintegrate them first applied in January 1985. [42] [43] Side effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy include biliary pancreatitis and liver haematoma. [44]
Lithotomy differs from lithotripsy, where the stones are crushed either by a minimally invasive probe inserted through the exit canal, or by an acoustic pulse (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy), which is a non-invasive procedure. Because of these less invasive procedures, the use of lithotomy has decreased significantly in the modern era.
However, they recommended slowing the shock wave firing rate from 120 pulses per minute to 60 pulses per minute to reduce the risk of renal injury and increase the degree of stone fragmentation. [108] Alpha-blockers are sometimes prescribed after shock wave lithotripsy to help the pieces of the stone leave the person's body. [113]
Laser lithotripsy (LL) has been evaluated against Extracorporeal Shock Wave lithotripsy (ESWL), finding both to be safe and effective. [3] [4] ESWL may be safer for small stones (<10 mm), but less effective for 10–20 mm stones. [3] A 2013 meta-analysis found LL can treat larger stones (> 2 cm) with good stone-free and complication rates. [5]