Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL)
Dr. David Tzou
Video Transcript
Shockwave Lithotripsy, also known as SWL, is a type
of stone surgery where sound waves are
directed towards the stone to break up the stone into
smaller fragments, which then the patient
can pass on their own.
Now, I think shockwave is often indicated
for smaller and favorably located stones.
So when we say smaller, usually in one less
than one centimeter.
And location wise,
it’s usually best if it’s in the ureter or in the top
or middle portion of the kidney.
For those types of kidney stones
the surgery can be quite effective.
Now, shockwave has some clear advantages compared
to other stone surgeries.
The first and foremost is that it’s non-invasive, right?
So it’s, it’s the least invasive of all the stone surgeries,
and so there’s no cuts, no cameras, no lasers
that have to go inside the patient.
And, um, you know, for this, I think
because of that there’s often, uh, a faster recovery
for these types of patients.
So, you know, they certainly get to go home the same day
and, um, they’re often back to work, you know, faster than
for the other stone surgeries.
Now, the other clear advantage for shockwave is that
it has the lowest risk for complications.
And so, you know, compared to the other stone surgeries,
you know, it’s just the, it is very low likelihood
of you having any problems with this type of surgery.
And then the third, I think, you know,
especially when you talk to patients who’ve had multiple
types of kidney stone surgery,
you don’t usually need a stent
with a shock wave lithotripsy.
And that’s great for those patients
because you know, those, that’s a very bothersome
and uncomfortable experience to live with those
straw like tubes with the curls on each end.
So when you talk about shock wave,
there’s some clear advantages
and there’s also some clear disadvantages.
And the main one for shockwave, for disadvantages is
that it might just not work, you know, the stones
and, uh, the type of anatomy can make a difference in
how effective shockwave actually is.
And so for some stones, they’re just resistant
to the shockwaves, and so the energy doesn’t do much
to the stones, and the patients are often left with
residual stones or even the same type
of stone burden that they started with.
And so for those patients, especially those who want
to have a definitive surgery in one surgery
and rather not have to go through multiple surgeries,
shockwave is probably not for them.
And then, you know, secondly, I guess for those patients
who have more tissue who are more obese, the shockwave,
effectiveness is not as high.
And that’s makes sense
because the energy required to penetrate that tissue is
is just not going to be
as effective when there’s more tissue present.
Thanks.