Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Urinary tract stones have plagued mankind since ancient times. Until recently, this painful condition was corrected surgically, sometimes with serious complications. This article discusses extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), a noninvasive treatment that uses shock waves to fragment stones so they can be flushed out of the body through urination. The author describes how urinary tract stones form, their signs and symptoms, different types of ESWL equipment, how the treatment is performed and the recurrence and prevention of urinary tract stones.