Lithotripsy is a noninvasive procedure that uses shock waves to break up kidney stones into smaller pieces. The shock waves are delivered through the skin and directed to the stone using ultrasound or X-ray imaging. This allows the smaller stone fragments to pass through the urinary system, avoiding the need for invasive surgery. Lithotripsy is used to treat stones that are too large to pass naturally and are causing bleeding, damage to the kidney, pain, or urinary tract infections. While generally safe, risks include bleeding, infection, blockage of urine flow, and needing additional procedures if fragments remain.

1. LITHOTRIPSY

2. WHAT IS LITHOTRIPSY?
Lithotripsy is a noninvasive procedure used to treat kidney
stones that are too large to pass the urinary tract. Lithotripsy
treats kidney stones by sending focused ultrasonic energy or
shock waves directly to the stone first located
with fluoroscopy (a type of X-ray “movie”) or ultrasound (high
frequency sound waves). The shock waves break a large
stone into smaller stones that will pass through the urinary
system. Lithotripsy allows persons with certain types of
stones in the urinary system to avoid an invasive surgical
procedure for stone removal. In order to aim the waves, your
doctor must be able to see the stones under X-
ray or ultrasound.

4. WHY THE PROCEDURE IS PERFORMED
 Lithotripsy is used to remove kidney stones that are
causing:
 Bleeding
 Damage to your kidney
 Pain
 Urinary tract infections

5. USING LITHOTRIPSY. THE STONE MAY ALSO
BE REMOVED WITH:
 A tube (endoscope) inserted into the kidney through
a small surgical cut in the back.
 A small lighted tube (ureteroscope) inserted through
the bladder into ureters. Ureters are the tubes that
connect the kidneys to the bladder.
 Open surgery (rarely needed).

6. LITHOTRIPSY IS SAFE MOST OF THE TIME. TALK TO
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ABOUT POSSIBLE
COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS:
 Bleeding around your kidney, which may require
you to get a blood transfusion.
 Kidney infection.
 Pieces of the stone block urine flow from your
kidney (this may cause severe pain or damage to
your kidney). If this happens, you may need
additional procedures.
 Pieces of stone are left in your body (you may need
more treatments).
 Ulcers in your stomach or small intestine.
 Problems with kidney function after the procedure.

7. OTHER PROCEDURES THAT MAY BE USED TO
TREAT KIDNEY STONES INCLUDE:
 Urethroscopy or ureteroscopy. Endoscopic
procedures in which stones in the urethra or ureter
may be removed with a device inserted through a
short, flexible, lighted tube, called an endoscope.
 Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (tunnel
surgery). A surgical procedure for stones that
cannot be treated with lithotripsy or endoscopic
procedures. It involves the removal of a stone
through a thin tube tunneled through a small
incision in the back into the kidney.

8.  Open surgery. A more invasive surgical procedure
using a larger incision to directly access the stone.
 Stent

9. Prepared by the student:
Amran Odeh
Under the supervision of Dr.:
Muhammad Awwad