Hazards of extracorporeal lithotripsy mainly include the possibility of incomplete fragmentation of stones, which makes it difficult for the stones to be expelled from the body. If extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is performed multiple times, it may also easily lead to fragility and narrowing of the urethra. It can also cause conditions such as ureteral edema, perirenal hematoma, and kidney bleeding.
1. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a convenient and effective means for treating stones, but it also has certain hazards. Since extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy cannot completely remove stones like surgery, it breaks the stones into smaller pieces using shock waves within the ureter or renal pelvis and then allows them to be expelled from the body through urination.
2. Extracorporeal lithotripsy may damage the mucosa of the urinary system, especially when used for ureteral stones. It is more likely to damage the ureteral mucosa, leading to ureteral edema, which can hinder the expulsion of stones and even make them difficult to fragment.
3. If extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is performed with inaccurate positioning, it may have the opposite effect. It not only fails to fragment the stones but also damages surrounding tissues. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the location of the stones before performing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
