First of all, we need to understand what is the urinary system? It is an excretory organ, so it should be understood that it is a plumbing system, plumbing system is like our water pipes also long water alkali, urinary system inside the stone is actually similar to water alkali, that is, in the pipe inside the growth of something, generated by what we call stones. Depending on where the stones occur, urinary stones can be divided into kidney stones, ureteral stones, bladder stones, urethral stones, etc. What are kidney stones? Stones in any part of the urinary tract can originate in the kidneys, especially ureteral stones which almost all come from the kidneys. The function of the kidneys is to filter the blood of useless impurities and waste products. In healthy people, these impurities and wastes are excreted in the urine. However, in some cases, some substances in the urine can form crystals, which collect in the kidneys to form stones. When stones block the passage of urine, they can cause pain and, if not properly treated, can lead to infection and kidney damage. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): ESWL, as the name suggests, is the use of shock waves from outside the body to break up stones in the body. It is a non-invasive treatment method. The shock waves are directed through the body to break up the stones into smaller particles under X-ray positioning. These smaller particles can then be excreted through the urinary tract. Possible complications: The complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy are low and include the following: infection; kidney contusion and bleeding; skin bruising; ureteral obstruction; and poor lithotripsy results. How is extracorporeal lithotripsy done? From a safety standpoint, extracorporeal lithotripsy usually requires a one-day hospital stay and includes a preoperative examination, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, and postoperative treatment. Pre-operative tests include routine blood work, coagulation, abdominal plain film, and intravenous pyelogram. Extracorporeal lithotripsy is performed at a specialized lithotripsy center and takes about one hour. In some complicated stone cases, a ureteral stent (also called a double J tube or D-J tube) may need to be placed in the ureter before the stone is lithotripsy, which ensures a clear ureter and prevents ureteral obstruction. The patient lies on a lithotripsy bed, and the doctor accurately locates the kidney stone by X-ray or ultrasound, and then fires a high-speed shock wave aimed at the stone. The patient may feel a gentle tapping sensation as the shock wave moves harmlessly through the body and acts on the stone. If a single extracorporeal lithotripsy is not effective, another extracorporeal lithotripsy may be required after a period of time, usually about half a month apart. Some antibiotics are needed after lithotripsy to prevent infection (some stones are inherently infected and bacteria tend to colonize the cavities inside the stone). In addition, if the stone is broken, the process of expelling the small fragments may cause pain, like a typical kidney colic attack, and pain medication may be needed. During this time, it is normal to have cloudy urine or some blood in the urine, and even some small stone fragments may be expelled. Patients should drink plenty of water. It is also normal if there is a low fever and pain. During stone removal, patients should come to the hospital immediately for follow-up if: 1) temperature exceeds 38°C; 2) large amount of blood in the eyes; 3) pain that cannot be relieved by painkillers; 4) nausea and vomiting; 5) impaired urination. Prevention of stone recurrence: After the stone is cured, the following points can help to prevent stone recurrence: 1. drink a lot of water, 8 to 12 glasses of 250ml of water per day; 2. pay attention to diet, appropriate amount of calcium supplement; 3. take medication as prescribed by the doctor; 4. regular review.