Lithotripsy

Memorial Medical Center has a powerful new weapon in its surgical arsenal – one that can pulverize painful kidney stones with high-energy shock waves.

The extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy system (ESWL) is the first in a hospital in Niagara County.  Lithotripsy spares a patient the discomfort of passing a kidney stone intact and eliminates the risk of surgery.

Performed on an outpatient basis, the procedure takes less than an hour. 

The physician locates the stone by use of pulse fluoroscopy, a live x-ray image that is viewed on a monitor.  Once the targeted stone is in the cross hairs, treatment begins.  High-energy shock waves pass through the body without injuring it, shattering the stone into small sand-like particles.

After the procedure, the patient is sent briefly to the recovery room and then goes home.
 
To learn more about Memorial's lithotripsy service, call (716) 278-4468.