Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
Before the advent of lithotripsy, surgery was used to remove kidney stones. This approach is uncommon today, but occasionally used when other conditions prevent the use of lithotripsy. Attempts are occasionally made to change the pH of urine so as...
to dissolve kidney stones. This treatment has limited success.
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Other Information
Lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones that form in the kidney, bladder, ureters, or gallbladder. There are several forms of lithotripsy. The most common is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Extracorporeal means outside the body.
From http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007113.htm
Other Information
In 2000, the estimated number of doctor visits and outpatient hospital visits by adults aged 20 or older with “calculus of kidney and ureters” as a listed diagnosis was of 2 million visits with urolithiasis as the primary diagnosis.
From: NKUDIC
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