Intracorporeal Lithotripsy- Urology

Intracorporeal lithotripsy is a type of procedure that is used to treat urolithiasis. Urolithiasis -or else called Urinary Calculosis- is the formation of stones (calculi) anywhere in the urinary tract. This implies that your urinary calculi is fragmented and should be removed using endoscopes in the urinary tract.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is one of the procedures to treat minor and small unobstructed calculi, because not all urinary stones require endosurgical removal. The small fragments in the urinary tract should only be flushed out when urinating, as this method doesn’t remove stones tangibly.

Before selecting the appropriate procedure for kidney stones, your doctor will consider its number, size and location. The stone composition could also affect treatment choices.

Why is intracorporeal lithotripsy required?

Larger stones measuring at least 2.5 cm may block the kidney. If another treatment cannot remove it, intracorporeal lithotripsy may be required.

There are certain types of stones that cannot be removed by Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). Examples of these are cysteine and calcium oxalate monohydrate stones.

An endosurgical approach may be done if ESWL cannot be done. Instead of an open medical procedure, endourology may done using small cameras, endoscopes and instruments that are inserted into the urinary tract of the patient.

Which doctor to consult?

A urologist is the primary doctor to consult about this procedure. He or she will make you understand about the procedure, the risks and after-care.

What to expect during intracorporeal lithotripsy

Ultrasonic lithotripsy is used to cope with infectious calculi. In this procedure, the suction can break down the stone into pieces and can remove stone particles. It also uses a percutaneously-placed rigid endoscope.

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy is done using a cathode on a wire link that can be set through inflexible or adaptable endoscopes. This turns pieces of stones into extractable pieces, but may be less effective than holmium. A form of endoscopic lithotrite has been substituted and/or accompanied by holmium lasers.

Mechanical and ballistic lithotripsy can be used effectively by using a rigid endoscope, and it can be done with stone migration during treatment. This test is done with flexible endoscopes.

Laser lithotripsy is a type of pulsed-dye laser, which uses light energy to fragment calculi through quartz fibers.

References

• Intracorporeal Lithotripsy: Background, History of the Procedure, Indications. (2019). Retrieved from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/445341-overview
• Intracorporeal lithotripsy | Fragmentation & removal of urinary calculi. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.ems-urology.com/en/stone-management/intracorporeal-lithotripsy

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