Lithotripsy is a non-invasive, ultrasonic shock wave technique for treating stones in the kidney and ureter and is available at Thomas Hospital.

For the most part, lithotripsy is an outpatient procedure performed by a urologist. The technique involves the patient lying on special bed through which high-energy shock waves are passed through the body. The shock waves break stones into very small pieces that can then pass from the body through urination.

This capability allows Thomas Hospital to offer complete patient care for all urology patients. The main advantage of lithotripsy is that it allows many patients to be treated for kidney stones without surgery.  This state-of-the-art technology provides fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and lower costs and reduced recovery times.

Not all types of kidney stones can be treated with lithotripsy. The size, location, composition and the number of stones are all factors that must be considered when exploring treatment options. The highest success rate seems to be in those patients with mobile stones that are located in the upper portions of the urinary tract (kidney and upper ureter).

Thomas Hospital partners with Mobile Litho Partners, LLC, to provide this service.