Kidney stones are hard deposits made from minerals and salts that form in your kidneys. If not treated, they can cause extreme pain and severe complications. Existing solutions tend to involve two parts of an invasive surgical process with a long recovery time and significant pain.Laser lithotripsy offers a modern solution for this.
This is a laser treatment that breaks stones into small, easily passable parts through the use of laser energy. This provides a much faster, less painful recovery and dramatically improves the quality of life to those who undergo it.
What is Laser Lithotripsy?
Laser lithotripsy, or elastographic shock wave therapy (ESWL), is a common procedure used to break up kidney stones. Once the stones are targeted, high-energy laser beams or sound waves will be used to break them up into smaller particles which can then pass from the body readily through urination.
Lithotripsy comes from the Greek words “litho” (stone) and “tripsy” meaning to crush, so laser lithotripsy is a technical way of saying stone-crushing with lasers. One of the most common urology procedures, this is done in a day-care fashion wherein patient goes home on the same day and performed by Urologist.
Benefits of Choosing Laser Lithotripsy
Oral surgery or shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) has given on an individual basis to treat kidney stones in the past. SWL involves breaking up the kidney stone with high-energy shock waves. Nonetheless, some stones adapt less well to this method than with other treatments.
What is the latest laser treatment for kidney stones?
Laser lithotripsy targets stones in a more direct fashion from inside your body with the laser (laser lithotripsy). This is where medical machines break them up from the outside – with shock waves. The benefits of laser lithotripsy is it can break up larger, harder stones that shock wave lithotripsy cannot.
Reasons why both patients and doctors prefer this approach include:
1. Minimally invasive
The procedure does not require any cutting. It involves using a flexible tube called a ureteroscope to access and remove kidney stones from the urinary tract.
2. High success rate
Holmium laser lithotripsy is highly effective in completely removing large and hard stones from the kidney.
3. Minimal downtime
Patients typically experience same-day recovery and can return to work within a few days. Because the procedure does not involve significant surgery.
4. Lower risk of complications
Laser lithotripsy carries a lower risk of post-surgery complications such as bleeding or infection compared to more invasive surgical methods.
What size kidney stone requires laser lithotripsy?
Kidney stones that are too large to pass naturally can be treated with laser lithotripsy. Those above 5 millimeters (mm) usually move to a size requiring treatment. This treatment is, however, more efficient in stones of 5 to 20 mm. Stones larger than 5 mm can lodge in the ureter and result in severe pain.
Very large stones cannot pass on their own; for a high percentage (over 90%), they must be removed by other means, such as surgery or lithotripsy, which uses ultrasonic waves to break them into pieces small enough, even for a urinary drainage tube. The size and treatment of this stone should be based on its location and composition, along with overall health.
The Procedure
How is laser lithotripsy performed equally, and why should the patient be asleep? The ureteroscope with a small camera is inserted through the urinary tract to view and remove kidney stones.
Laser Treatment
The laser fibers are threaded through the channels of the ureteroscope to direct this energy right at where obstructing or stone material. This power shatters the stones into smaller pieces, which can then either be removed via a ureteroscope or passed naturally with urine.
It usually lasts 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the number of stone and its dimensions a surgeon needs to address. Pain or mild discomfort may occur during urination in the days after treatment. This can often be controlled with medication prescribed by your physician..
- Risks and Complications
Laser lithotripsy has been a proven and safe technique for treating kidney stones over the years. However, like any medical intervention, there are potential risks and complications to be aware of, such as:- Damage to surrounding normal tissue and blood vessels due to exposure to laser energy.
- There is an infection risk, which can be elevated when instruments pass through the urethra. Precautionary antibiotics may be prescribed before or after the procedure.
- Ureteral perforation is an uncommon occurrence in which a tear or hole can develop in the ureter during ureteroscope insertion, requiring further medical attention.
It is advisable to have detailed discussions with a healthcare professional regarding these potential risks before proceeding with laser lithotripsy.
- Post-Treatment Care
Following laser lithotripsy, it is essential to maintain a high water intake to aid in flushing out tiny stone remnants via urine. Sometimes, a stent may be placed in the ureter to facilitate unobstructed urine passage effectively. These surgeons will provide guidance on post-surgery dietary requirements and medications. Your doctor might recommend specific diet adjustments or medications if you are at risk of developing new stones, depending on the size and type of the stone.
What is the recovery time for laser lithotripsy?
Usually laser lithotripsy recovery time is very short. Patients often can resume normal activities within a day, with full recovery in a matter of days to one week after the procedure. You will have some discomfort and be passing blood in your urine after the treatment, but these symptoms should quickly clear within a few days.
Strenuous activities should be avoided for at least one or two weeks to allow the tissues time to heal. Sometimes it may take a few weeks for full recovery and passage of all stone fragments. You will be asked to come back for regular check-ups so that your doctor can make sure you have passed all of the stone fragments and monitor any problems.
Conclusion
Laser lithotripsy is an advanced therapy for kidney stones and has given patients a risk-free minimal access procedure leading to better co-operation among surgeons as well as doctors. The first-ever process using this method had overwhelmingly been successful in addition to having short recovery times making it very beneficial technique for doing away with kidney stones.
When you face symptoms of kidney stones, then it would be better to consult a Urologist to figure out if Laser Lithotripsy is the apt solution for atreatment. This condition, if caught early can be effectively managed and it is highly important to the preservation of your health. Always make sure you are getting proper self care and educate yourself on any procedures, tests or treatments available to improve your health & well-being.