Lithotripsy Treatment

The Urology Department at “Herzliya Medical Center” Private Hospital is equipped with the most modern equipment available. New technology combined with the vast experience of the urologists allows to treat patients effectively. This department at HMC carries out complex operations and unique treatments in a comfortable environment and under the supervision of leading Israeli experts.

People from all over the world come here to have their urological problems solved and continue to lead a normal and healthy life. Specialists at “Herzliya Medical Center” offer their patients a modern and effective treatment of urolithiasis, whether it is a simple case or an extremely heavy one. Experts at HMC provide all the conditions for an accurate diagnosis and a successful treatment of kidney stones, applying lithotripsy.

Symptoms of Urolithiasis

Patients who need to have their kidney stones broken up and removed are well aware of the painful symptoms of the disease. Kidney stones are in fact, salt crystals of different sizes and shapes. When the stones are beginning to change their position and move through the urinary tract, it begins to feel very uncomfortable. Typically, patients complain of severe pain in the back of the lower abdomen. Urination accompanied by a burning sensation in the urine or blood may also appear as the stone violates the integrity of mucous membranes.
Currently, the main treatment of urolithiasis is crushing the stones by lithotripsy. There are several methods by which the surgeon-urologist pulverizes kidney stones. To assign the most effective treatment, and to save the patient from acute pain and discomfort, it is important to conduct a thorough diagnosis.

Diagnosis of urolithiasis in Israel

The precision diagnostic equipment at “Herzliya Medical Center” allows one to get complete information about the shape, the size and the location of the stones in the kidney. The patient will then be assigned to the most appropriate treatment.

Lithotripsy in Israel is preceded by a set of examinations, during which the patient goes through the following procedures:

• Laboratory tests of blood and urine
• Ultrasound of the genitourinary system
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Cystoscopy
• Radiography
• Consultation and examination by a lithotripsy specialist

When the expert receives the full findings, a meeting with the patient is held in order to discuss the next steps. Based on the obtained data, the most effective treatment is assigned: a selection of a particular method depending on the size of the stone, its type and location.

Treatment of urolithiasis – Lithotripsy in Israel

It is difficult to imagine how people suffered from kidney stones a few decades ago. They had to endure incredible pain and drink diuretic teas for the stones to come out. In severe cases, open surgery was conducted. Nowadays, it has become easier and safer.
Our specialists offer their patients a new painless way to fight urolithiasis. Lithotripsy in Israel or fragmentation of kidney stones – is a less traumatic procedure than before and does not even require hospitalization.
It’s just one of those procedures that is absolutely painless, performed without anesthesia on an outpatient basis the Department of Urology at HMC.

Several types of lithotripsy procedures are widely used in Israel

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. This type of treatment is suitable for crushing stones ranging in size from four millimeters to two centimeters which are located in the upper and middle parts of the kidney. The crushing of the stones occurs through sound waves of a certain frequency. Ureteroscopy with lithotripsy. During laser lithotripsy, the urologist will thread a special scope through your urethra, bladder and up your ureter to the stone. Using very small cameras, the urologist will be able to see the stone on a monitor. A small but powerful laser is used to break up the stone into little pieces. These pieces are then passed out of the body easily with urine. This procedure does not involve any incisions. Lithotripsy using urethroscope is applied if the stone reaches a medium-sized (up to three inches) or located in the lower part of the kidney.
Percutaneous lithotripsy or nephrolithotripsy in Israel is applied when the above-mentioned methods are ineffective due to the size of the stone.
This endoscopic surgery in the lumbar region is conducted by making a small incision through which an optical device, a nephroscope is introduced which manipulates, crushes and removes the stone.
Nephrolithotripsy in Israel is carried out under general anesthesia. This is the only method that requires hospitalization, but after 1-2 days the patient is released.

All methods used by our doctors at “Herzliya Medical Center” aim at reducing the period of rehabilitation and complications. Within a week, patients can go home and keep on living an active lifestyle.