Kidney stones: can you do without surgery?
Urolithiasis or urolithiasis (IBS) today, unfortunately, the phenomenon is quite common. Statistics say that in seven out of ten people in Ukraine of middle and older age, sand, stones in the kidneys or urinary tract are detected. Often the stones in the kidneys can not go out on their own and create a lot of problems: a person complains of disorders of urination, pain, blood in the urine, etc. But she is afraid to seek medical help, fearing that the doctor will appoint a surgical treatment. However, modern urology offers alternative therapies such as lithotripsy – a non-surgical method for crushing stones in the kidneys, the bladder and ureters using ultrasound waves.
Lithotripsy: How this method works
The crushing of stones in the kidneys, ureters, and the bladder with lithotripsy is a less traumatic ICD treatment than surgical intervention. The method is based on the action of ultrasonic waves, which are directed to a rock and destroy it by means of a shock wave into small concrements, which are then easily deduced from the body.
The basic methods of lithotripsy are two: shock-wave remote and contact. Modern devices – lithotripters allow to break stones in ureters, kidneys, as well as the gall bladder with minimal impact on tissue. With remote lithotripsy, there may be a need for re-treatment if the stone has not been resolved from the first time or the function of the kidney has been weakened and fragmented fragments have not completely removed from the organ. In some cases, the doctor sees that remote lithotripsy in general may be ineffective and offers the patient a contact method.
When contact lithotripsy is prescribed
When the ureter is narrowed below the located stone, stones in the flea-ureteric segment, with the accompanying pyelonephritis and a number of other states, the distance method is not effective. With the contact method through the urethra, bladder or ureter, an endoscope is used to break down the stones inside the organ. This method is effective when crushing large stones and finding them in problem areas.
With a pronounced inflammatory process, narrowing of the urethra and in a number of other cases, the technique is contraindicated. In the absence of contraindications, the effectiveness of this method can reach 100% and the need to perform a procedure does not recur.
Which method will help you – the doctor will tell you
Each of the stone removal methods can have its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, the expert makes the final decision, based on the individual characteristics of the patient, his health indicators, the size of the stones themselves and their location, etc. Also, the specialist will tell about the methods of prevention ICD: because lithotripsy helps to remove already existing stones, but if you do not take preventive measures, the stones will eventually reappear.
