An Answer to Kidney Stones

Kidney stones-one of the most painful types of urologic disorders-are hard crystal masses that have built up inside the kidney. About 80 percent of kidney stones will pass from the body without causing problems for the patient, but the remaining 20 percent of patients will need some form of intervention.

Residents of the Cape suffering with kidney stone complications have a new treatment option that may be able to relieve their pain. In an outpatient procedure called extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, doctors use shock waves to pulverize the kidney stone, breaking it into tiny, sand-like particles that can pass with the urine.

"When a kidney stone becomes large enough to be seen on an X-ray or ultrasound, it's time to do something about it," says James Kelly, MD, board-certified urologist on staff at Falmouth Hospital. "Lithotripsy is a safe procedure that causes virtually no injury to other organs."

Previous forms of lithotripsy required patients to be immersed in a tub of water during the procedure. However, the newer version of lithotripsy performed at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital allow the external shock waves to pass through a jelly-like pad placed against the anesthetized patient's abdominal area.

"Patients go home within a few hours of the procedure and may return to regular activities the next day," Dr. Kelly says. "Lithotripsy is effective 70 to 80 percent of the time, which is a high rate of success when dealing with kidney stones."

For more information about extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, visit www.capecodhealth.org.

"Because of the success of shockwave lithotripsy, it's now rare to use open surgery to remove kidney stones. Lithotripsy is a safe, noninvasive procedure that may relieve the pain of kidney stones and allow sufferers to get back to their normal lives."

-James Kelly, MD, board-certified urologist on staff at Falmouth Hospital