What is Lithotripsy?

Lithotripsy, also known as Kidney stones (or renal calculi, nephrolithiasis, or urolithiasis) are mineral and salt deposits that grow inside your kidneys.

Kidney stones can be caused by a variety of factors, including diet, excess body weight, certain medical conditions, and certain supplements and drugs. From your kidneys to your bladder, kidney stones can harm any component of your urinary tract. When urine becomes concentrated, minerals crystallize and bind together, resulting in stones.

Kidney stones can be quite painful to pass, but if caught early enough, they usually do not cause permanent damage. To clear a kidney stone, you may only need to take pain medication and drink plenty of water, depending on your circumstances. In other cases, surgery may be required if stones become trapped in the urinary tract, are connected with a urinary infection, or cause problems.

A kidney stone normally does not produce symptoms until it travels about inside your kidney or passes into your ureters, which are the tubes that link your kidneys and bladder. If it becomes lodged in the ureters, it can obstruct urine flow and cause the kidney to enlarge and the ureter to spasm, both of which can be quite painful. You may experience the following indications and symptoms at that time:

• Severe, sharp pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that radiates to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain or burning sensation while urinating

Other signs and symptoms may include:

When is Kidney Stone Removal Required?

The following are some of the reasons why stone removal surgery is required:

• The kidney stone is too large to pass out of the system on its own
• The stones are causing persistent pain and bleeding
• The kidney stone is causing obstruction in urine flow
• The kidney stone is causing kidney damage
• It may be increasing in size
• The kidney stone may lead to urinary tract infection.