Patient's question:
I am from Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. Yesterday, I found out that I have kidney stones in my urinary tract, measuring 0.5 millimeters in size. The doctor suggested that I pass them out, and they have already moved down, but ultimately, they did not fall out.Doctor's answer:
Hello: Ureteral calculi can be easily diagnosed through clinical ultrasound examination. Generally, kidney stones that fall off and enter the ureter can be diagnosed as ureteral calculi. They often cause ureteral obstruction, leading to renal pelvis dilation and hydronephrosis. If the ureteral calculi causing obstruction are not removed promptly, it may result in kidney damage and kidney failure. In the early stages, it often presents with lower back pain and discomfort, as well as severe renal colic, causing extreme suffering to the patient. Lower and middle ureteral calculi can reflect pain in the penis, testicles, and perineum. Accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. The first choice for treatment is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for stone removal. Early treatment is recommended for better stone removal results.First, let me explain that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive, innovative stone removal treatment device and technology. Its principle is entirely different from that of extracorporeal shockwave. The advantage of ESWL lies in its lack of organ damage, thorough stone removal, minimal patient pain, and ease of acceptance. In contrast, extracorporeal shockwave causes organ damage and is more painful.
The ESWL technology employs high-frequency superconducting fluid dynamics, three-dimensional dynamic lithotripsy, and large digital ultrasound assistance for positioning. It features accurate positioning, rapid stone removal, and complete stone removal for bile duct stones and ureteral stones. It is particularly effective in treating in the intrahepatic bile ducts. The most prominent feature of this equipment is its humanized operability, thorough stone removal for various types of stones, wide range of indications, minimal side effects on the human body, painless stone removal process, no need for hospitalization, and low treatment costs, making it easily accepted by patients. It is a reliable, effective, simple, and practical treatment device with unique equipment and technical advantages. Therefore, it is currently the best choice for treating various types of stones.
ESWL is the optimal treatment for kidney stones and ureteral stones under 10mm. Generally, after several treatments, the stones can be completely removed. For larger stones, the principle of first crushing and then removing the stones can be adopted to achieve complementary advantages. However, for ureteral stones, it is necessary to wait for 3-5 days after the local ureter becomes congested and edematous before starting stone removal treatment. Generally, stones are relatively easy to remove. Whether it is small ureteral stones or larger multiple stones, due to the widespread use of ultrasound, the diagnosis of ureteral stones is timely and easy. Small stones entering the ureter are usually detected early, providing the best indication and timing for ESWL treatment. For stones that have been lodged in the ureter for a long time, it is difficult to remove them without surgical intervention or ureteroscopy. At the same time, it is also more important to provide patients with the latest measures for early stone removal to avoid excessive treatment methods that cause significant organ damage, poor efficacy, pain, and high costs.
The indications and treatment scope of ESWL are as follows:
(1) For various kidney stones and ureteral stones less than 1.2 cm in diameter, ESWL should be the first choice for stone removal. It causes no kidney damage, ensures thorough stone removal, is safe and painless, and avoids the side effects of shockwave. If the stone diameter is greater than 1.2 cm, extracorporeal shockwave should be used first to crush the stone, followed by ESWL for thorough stone removal, achieving complementary advantages.
(2) This equipment is particularly suitable for acute ureteral stones and the resulting renal pelvis dilation, hydronephrosis, ureteral obstruction, ureteral dilation, and renal colic. It can quickly remove ureteral stones, alleviate immediate pain, and rapidly relieve symptoms, making it the preferred treatment for ureteral stones.
(3) For patients with multiple kidney stones on the same side combined with ureteral stones, the ureteral stones should be removed first, followed by the removal of multiple kidney stones, to prevent the formation of a "stone street" in the ureter.
(4) For large kidney stones that remain in the lower pole of the kidney or renal pelvis after ESWL, small stones in the renal pelvis or calyces are the best indication for ESWL for thorough stone removal. This is because the handheld high-frequency superconducting shock wave can directly touch the stones in the lower pole of the kidney, move them into the renal pelvis and ureter, and remove them from the body.
(5) For the stone removal treatment of the above types of stone diseases, if complications such as urinary tract infections lead to conditions like pyelonephritis, ureteritis, cystitis, prostatitis, or urethritis, the inflammation caused by mucosal congestion and edema may hinder stone removal. Therefore, antibiotic anti-inflammatory treatment must be administered first, and ESWL treatment can only be performed after the inflammation subsides.
(6) Generally, 1-3 ESWL treatments are sufficient to completely remove stones, with a duration of 5-7 days. Patients in good physical condition can undergo continuous stone removal treatments, while those with poorer physical health can have treatments once every other day. If patients have poor urinary function or infections, the hospitalization period may be longer. According to clinical observations, Professor Chen Bangjing believes that ESWL is currently the leading new technology for treating stones both domestically and internationally. It is the preferred method for treating kidney stones, ureteral stones (which are generally removed within two hours), gallstones, and extrahepatic bile duct stones. Its completely thorough stone removal effect, lack of any organ damage, and low cost have benefited a vast number of patients. For stones beyond the scope of ESWL, extracorporeal shockwave should be performed first, followed by stone removal. For large renal cast stones and gallstones, surgical stone removal is recommended if detected early.
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