Need Help Planning Your Treatment Abroad?
Your 24/7 AI Health Assistant 
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a procedure that involves breaking up stones in the urinary tract, bile ducts, or pancreatic ducts by using shock waves generated by a lithotripter.
The shock waves enter the body and are accurately targeted using X-ray imaging. The procedure aims to break the stones into smaller pieces that can either pass naturally through the body or be more easily collected.
For stones in the kidneys and ureter, the fragments will be expelled with urine. For Larger stones in the bile ducts or pancreatic duct, they are removed using an endoscope—a flexible tube inserted through the mouth.
Classification
The following are the main classifications:
Based on the Shock Wave Generator Type
- Electrohydraulic Lithotripters: They use underwater sparks to generate shock waves.
- Electromagnetic Lithotripters: They use electromagnetic coils to produce shock waves.
- Piezoelectric Lithotripters: They employ piezoelectric crystals that expand and contract to produce shock waves.
Based on the Targeting Method
- Fluoroscopy-Guided ESWL: Uses X-ray imaging to locate and target the stone.
- Ultrasound-Guided ESWL: It uses ultrasound imaging to locate and target the stone.
Based on Stone's Characteristics
- Size of Stone
- Composition of Stone
- Calcium-based stones
Based on the Location of Stone
- Kidney stones: Typically easier to treat with ESWL.
- Ureteral stones: May require different positioning or additional treatments.
- Sedation or Anaesthesia: Based on the patient's status and expected pain, mild sedation or light anaesthesia may be employed to reduce discomfort during surgery.
- Application of Shock Waves: The stone is the very specific target of high-energy shock waves generated from outside. These waves fragment the stone into smaller pieces as they travel through the soft tissues.
- Monitoring and Adjustment: Imaging is employed to monitor the process continuously. To ensure accurate targeting, shock wave position or intensity may be altered.
- Recovery and Completion: After treatment is completed, which typically takes 30 to 60 minutes, the patient is monitored for a brief period and then discharged.
- Obstruction of your ureter
- Bleeding
- Infection
Would you like some help? We are available.
Get Help
Riyadh Care Hospital
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Apart from in-detail treatment procedures available, Riyadh Care Hospital located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has a wide variety of facilities available for International Patients. Some of the facilities which are provided by them are Accommodation, Airport Transfer, Choice of Meals, Interpreter, SIM, TV inside room. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- This healthcare organisation is equipped with modern and advanced healthcare instruments.
- Riyadh Care Hospital has a 325 bed capacity.
- The Department of Emergency and Department of Children Emergency work round the clock to provide the best of emergency care services.
- Respiratory Therapy and Dialysis Center takes care of the respiratory and renal conditions of the patients.
- Medical Rehabilitation Center provides the best in class rehabilitation and recovery services to the patients.
- Laboratory, Blood Bank, Physical Therapy and Radiology departments are also present.
- Intensive & Medium Care Unit for Children and Newborns and Intensive Care Unit for Cardiac conditions are also worth a mention for the outstanding work they are doing.
- Pharmacies for inpatients, outpatients and emergencies.
- The Intensive Care Unit is working to provide care for advanced and critical care.
Care national Hospital
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Apart from in-detail treatment procedures available, Care National Hospital located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has a wide variety of facilities available for International Patients. Some of the facilities which are provided by them are Accommodation, Airport Transfer, Choice of Meals. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- International patient care services of Care National Hospital is also at par with global standards. They provide all kinds of assistance to the patients coming from different nationalities to get required treatment.
- Innovative healthcare practices are employed in the hospital and the healthcare providers routinely go over and above to provide the best treatment that any patient could get.
- The hospital specialises in providing patients with customised healthcare options.
- A multispecialty hospital with integrated departments, it has a bed capacity of 459.
- Homecare services are also routinely provided to the patients of Care National Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Outpatient Clinics include the following:
- Department of Binoculars
- Emergency Department
- Radiology Department
- Laboratory
- Blood Bank
- Department of Physical Therapy
- Pharmacy
Need Some Advice From Our Experts?
Request a Call Back Now!
Our team of healthcare experts would be happy to assist you
+99Process Involved for ESWL in Riyadh
- Consultation: See a urologist to check the kidney stone's size, location, and nature.
- Pre-operative evaluation: Evaluate medical history and conduct imaging studies to verify the stone's nature.
- Discussion of Treatment: Consider whether or not ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy) is appropriate or whether other treatment will be required.
- Treatment Procedure: Discover the process of ESWL, pain to be anticipated, and experience to be looked for.
- Post-Treatment Follow-up: Observe for stone fragments, control pain, and see no complications develop.
- Kidney Stones
- Ureteral Stones
- Urinary obstruction, pain, or hematuria are the signs of ureteric or kidney stones.
- The stones are also too large to pass through individually.
- Medication and other non-surgical treatments have failed.
- Stones are verified by imaging (CT scan, ultrasound, or X-ray).
- Non-invasive: No cuts are needed.
- Reduces the necessity of general anesthesia and hospital stay.
- High success rate in breaking down stones into smaller fragments.
- Shorter recovery time compared to surgery.
- Urologist
- Fill out the inquiry form: Fill out the form to provide us with the relevant information about your condition.
- Consult with Our Healthcare Expert: One of our qualified specialists will contact you for a consultation.
- Receive a Detailed Treatment Plan: After examining your situation, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan that includes expert views and cost breakdowns for various choices.
- Choose your preferred option: Choose the treatment option that suits you the best.
