What is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy? For which patients is it suitable?

  With the development of related disciplines and the continuous innovation of medical devices, the treatment of urinary stones has made a breakthrough, or rather a revolutionary change, with urinary stones generally not requiring open surgery! This is the credit of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter! The stones can be shattered outside the body, and the stones can be as big as green beans or as small as fine sand, and can be excreted with urine. Therefore, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is called “the revolution in the treatment of urinary stones”. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy can treat kidney stones less than 2 cm in diameter and ureteral stones less than 1 cm in diameter, and it is the preferred treatment method. Of course, patients with larger stones or comorbidities require lumpectomy, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy, transurethral ureteroscopy, transurethral cystoscopy, etc., which requires specific treatment for specific problems.