Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive treatment of kidney stones. There are no incisions. It uses x-ray to guide shockwaves at kidney or ureteral stones from outside your body. The shock waves pass harmlessly through your body. They hit the stone, causing it to crumble into sand-like pieces. These pieces can then pass out of your system with urine.

Getting Ready

One week before the ESWL, do not take aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, or Advil), NSAIDs, vitamin E, or “blood-thinning” medicines.

Home Care After ESWL

Diet

Start slowly with clear liquids. You may add solid food to your diet as you are able. When you can drink fluids well, drink at least 10-12 glasses (8 ounces each) of liquid each day. The increase in fluids helps you pass the stone pieces and decreases the amount of small blood clots in your urine. Do not drink alcohol for 48 hours.

Clear Liquids

• Water

• Broth

• Juice without pulp (apple cranberry, grape)

• Popsicles

• Hard candy

• Boost Breeze®

• Clear Jell-O

• Gatorade

• Carbonated drinks or clear sodas

• Weak coffee or tea, no creamers(sugar or sugar substitute is okay)
  

What to Expect After ESWL

• Burning when passing urine

• Blood-tinged urine

• Small blood clots in your urine

• Passing urine more often than normal

• Nausea

• Redness at the site of the treatment(on your side or back)

• Back or abdominal pain as the stone fragments pass through the urine tract
  

Pain Relief

For mild pain, you may take acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not take more than 4g, or 4,000 mg per day. For more intense pain, take the pain pills ordered by your doctor.

Straining Urine

We will give you a strainer to strain your urine at home. The stone pieces or ‘sand’ should be brought in or need to be sent to your urology doctor for testing. Bring or send them in the sterile, plastic bottle you were given.

Activity

• Walk as much as you can. This will help to pass the sand-like fragments.

• Do not lift more than 10 pounds for 24 hours. If you have blood in your urine, do not lift until the urine is clear.

• Do not take aspirin, NSAIDs (ibuprofen products), or blood thinners until there is no blood in your urine.

• You may shower or bathe as you like.

• No sex for 24 hours. If you have a stent in place, sex may cause pain or
  blood in your urine. If this happens, do not have sex until your urine is clear and you have no pain.

• Do not drive or use heavy machines for 24 hours or while taking narcotic pain pills.
  

Follow-Up

Your follow-up visit will be 2-4 weeks after your ESWL. You will have an x-ray and if you have a stent in place, it may be taken out.

When to Call

• Fever over 100.4° F by mouth, for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart

• Pain not controlled by pain pills

• Nausea or vomiting for more than 24 hours

• Low urine output

• Problems passing urine

• Severe burning when passing urine

• Large blood clots in the urine
  

Who to Call

Urology Clinic

608-263-4757

After hours call the paging operator at: 608-262-0486. Ask for the urology doctor on call. Leave your name and number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.

The toll-free number is: 1-800-323-8942