Page 1 - Shock Wave Lithotripsy Discharge Instructions

Urological Health
Shock wave lithotripsy
Discharge instructions
Shock wave lithotripsy has been used to pulverize a kidney stone so that that it can pass more
easily and with less pain.
Y Prior to your discharge, you will have been given
ou have just completed shock wave lithotripsy
(SWL) for treatment of a stone in a kidney or
a ureter, the long narrow tube connecting each
kidney to the bladder. Your stone was targeted with
X-ray or ultrasound after which shock waves were
administered to break the stone into smaller pieces
which should pass more easily and with less pain.
The X-ray taken several weeks after shock wave
lithotripsy will show how successful your treatment
has been.
What to expect after your treatment
After SWL, small stone fragments often will pass in
the urine for several days or weeks. This may be
accompanied by some degree of pain often starting
in the flank or back from where it may travel to the
lower abdomen or groin. You may also have brief
pain in the urethra (the bladder outlet) as stone
fragments come out in the urine.
Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol™) or ibuprofen (e.g.
Advil™) can be used as directed for mild pain. You
may require stronger prescription pain killers such as
acetaminophen with codeine (e.g. Tylenol #3™).
needed. Medication may be prescribed to help the
a prescription for such a pain killer to be used as
body pass the small stone fragments after SWL.
A few patients experience severe pain after shock
wave lithotripsy. Usually this is caused by a larger stone
fragment becoming stuck and blocking drainage
of urine from a kidney. This pain may occur several
days after your SWL treatment. If the pain cannot
be controlled with the medication that you have
available, you should go to a hospital emergency
room for treatment. Rarely, this pain may occur from
a burst blood vessel on the surface of the kidney. You
should notify the emergency room staff that you have
had shock wave lithotripsy for a kidney stone.
Increased frequency and urgency of urination are
common after SWL. You may also note blood-staining
of the urine. This is a common problem and should
clear up within a few days. Drinking a lot of fluid (at
least two litres of fluid every day) will help flush out
stone fragments and clear any blood from the urine.
You may have some bruising of the skin where the
shockwaves entered the body. Generally, this will
resolve over the first week.
Medications
Unless otherwise advised, you should take all of your
usual medications. Aspirin-containing products and
arthritis medication generally can be resumed on
the day after your SWL treatment. If you normally
take stronger blood-thinners, like warfarin, (i.e.
Coumadin™), check with your doctor for instructions
about restarting. If you have any concern regarding
medications, ask your doctor or urologist.
Diet and activity
It is safe to resume your normal diet and physical
activity the day after your treatment. Increasing
your fluid intake may help with the passage of stone
fragments.
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