15/06/2020
What is Lithotripsy?
The complete term is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (E.S.W.L.), which means Lithotripsy from outer core of body i.e., through skin. Lithotripsy is a combination of two words “Litho” and “Tripsy”. In Latin, the word “Lith” is used for “Stone” and the word “Tripsy” means crushing. In modern science, Lithotripsy is a branch of medical field, in which the stone present in urinary or biliary system is crushed into small sand like pieces with the help of ultrasound like harmless waves, without any breach in skin surface. In this modality of treatment, neither a surgical cut or hole on the skin is required nor is an internal tube or instrument used endoscopically through urethra or per oram. The harmless shock waves reach the stone by penetrating intact outer skin surface painlessly and focus on the stone after traveling through the body tissues.
To begin with, cracks are developed in the stone and it is then crushed into small sand like particles. These small particles are automatically excreted from the body through natural passages. The particles of kidney stone are passed through urine whereas the particles of gallstone are passed through faeces, as the gallbladder tube called cystic duct is connected with small intestine through common bile duct.
How is Lithotripsy performed?
This method of treatment is unbelievably convenient and comfortable. Routinely, neither there is any need to remain empty stomach nor any injection or medicine is used before treatment. The patient just walks in Lithotripsy room and lies on a soft table. Water filled balloon touches the abdomen and multiple images of stone appear on the TV monitors from various directions. Neither there is any need to anaesthetize the patient nor he or she feels any pain or inconvenience. The treatment starts in a relaxed atmosphere, while chatting lightly about the procedure. During the process also, the patient feels satisfied & comfortable .It seems as if some thing is softly knocking at his skin repeatedly through the balloon. In this peaceful & brotherly environment, the stone breaks into pieces in minutes. The patient walks out of the room with a satisfied face and starts the routine life on the same day. This applies to most of patients with certain exceptions. For very hard and big stones, the procedure may be repeated for more than once.
The development of Lithotripsy
The Lithotripsy machine is called “Lithotripter”. This wonder of medical science and state of art technology developed in Germany, where first patient was treated in February 1980, in Munich University. The first success created a great wave of jubilation all over medical community and this success was considered one of the greatest inventions of 20th century in medical science in stone management. Even for the surgeons, it was astonishing and amazing that for those cases, where they have to operate for hours, the treatment was now possible without surgery, not loosing even a single drop of blood and there were no side effects at all. In a short span of time, different models of Lithotripter were invented due to rapid advancement in technology. In the beginning, the patient had to lie in water filled tub and only small sized stones of kidney were crushed after keeping the patient empty stomach & unconscious. But as the medical research advanced, newer machines with better technology were manufactured. Now there is no need to anesthetize the patient or keep him hungry, nor is any water tub required. The treatment of the patient is usually completed in forty-fifty minutes without any pain. Now the treatment is possible at all locations, whether Kidney, Ureter (tube of Kidney), Urinary Bladder, Gall Bladder or Bile duct.
