Innovative Piezoelectric Extracorporeal Lithotripter (original) (raw)

IGI Global eBooks, 2011

Abstract

Before 1980, the majority of patients with urolithiasis and nephrolithiasis needed surgery (Kerbl, Rehman, Landman, Lee, Sundaram, & Clayman, 2002; Soucie et al., 1994). Fortunately, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopic intrarenal surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) now allow almost any calculus to be removed without open surgery. SWL refers to the use of high intensity pressure pulses, generated outside the body, to break up kidney stones (Chaussy, Brendel, & Schmiedt, 1980; Loske, 2007). It has become the standard treatment for the majority of patients and an alternative in the management of gallbladder stones, pancreatic concrements, and salivary gland stones. Even though initial studies concluded that shock waves had no damaging effect on renal tissue, later several authors reported that shock waves may cause tissue trauma (Evan, Willis, Connors, McAteer, & Lingeman, 1991; Evan, Willis, & Lingeman, 2003 Willis et al., 1999). Fortunately, techniques and devices are still evolving and improvements to increase stone fragmentation efficiency and reduce tissue trauma are being constantly sought.

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