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Home · Conditions · Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
Stones & urinary
ESWL breaks kidney stones into small fragments using focused sound waves from outside the body — no incision, usually home the same day, and the pieces pass naturally.
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive way to treat kidney stones. Focused sound waves are delivered from outside the body and aimed precisely at the stone, breaking it into small fragments that then pass naturally in the urine. There's no incision.
ESWL is one of several tools for kidney stones — best suited to particular stone sizes and locations, which we confirm with imaging first.
ESWL is a strong option for many stones that are too large to pass comfortably on their own but well-positioned for shockwave treatment. If a stone isn't a good fit for ESWL, we'll tell you and walk through the alternatives. A quick in-office ultrasound often guides the call.
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused sound waves, delivered from outside the body, to break a kidney stone into small pieces that can pass in the urine.
It's done with sedation or anesthesia so you're comfortable during the treatment. Afterward, you may feel some soreness and notice blood in the urine briefly as the fragments pass.
Most people go home the same day and resume normal activity quickly. The stone fragments typically pass over the following days to weeks.
No — it works best for certain stone sizes, types, and locations. We use imaging to decide whether ESWL or another approach is the better fit.
Related care
Book an evaluation and we'll tell you whether ESWL is the right approach for your stone.
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