Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. How does it work? Who are candidates for it?

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has become a valuable asset to the urologist and greatly benefits urologic stone patients. Eight years of clinical use have proven its clinical efficacy, with more than 400,000 successfully performed treatments worldwide. In a short period of time, ESWL has completely changed the management of urinary stone disease and has almost entirely supplanted open surgical and most endourologic approaches. It is less expensive than other lithotripsy methods, is noninvasive, and usually causes only minimal postprocedural discomfort. Outpatient treatment or a very short hospital stay is the norm, and most patients resume their normal activities almost immediately.