Lithotripsy Health Article

KEY TERMS

Aneurysm—A dilation of the wall of an artery which causes a weak area prone to rupturing.

Bladder—Organ in which urine is stored prior to urination.

Bleeding disorder—Problems with the clotting mechanism of the blood.

Cardiologist—A physician who specializes in problems with the heart and its vessels.

Computed tomography—An imaging examination that uses x-rays to produce a cross-sectional image of the anatomical area of interest; used to image the urinary tract and kidneys to detect kidney stones.

ECG—Electrocardiogram; a tracing of the electrical activity of the heart.

Gravel—The debris which is formed from a fragmented kidney stone.

IVP (Intravenous pyelogram)—The use of a dye, injected into the veins, used to locate kidney stones. Also used to determine the anatomy of the urinary system.

Kidney stones—Also called calculi; hard masses that form in the urinary tract and which can cause pain, bleeding, obstruction, or infection. Stones are primarily made up of calcium and can vary in size from a few millimeters to over a centimeter and more in diameter.

Nephroscope—An endoscope, a thin flexible tube with optics, used to examine the kidneys and through which intracorporeal lithotripsy can be performed.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy—A minimally invasive endoscopic procedure involving a small incision in the back through which a nephroscope is inserted to remove stones from the kidney; used in conjunction with ISWL and after unsuccessful ESWL.

Stent—A small, short plastic tubular device placed in the urethra or ureters to widen them in order for stones and stone fragments to pass easily.

Ultrasound—Sound waves used to determine the internal structures of the body.

Ureter—A tube which carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Ureteroscope—An endoscope, a thin flexible tube with optics, used to examine the ureters and through which intracorporeal lithotripsy can be performed.

Urethra—A tube through which urine passes during urination.

Urologist—A physician who specializes in problems of the urinary system.

BOOKS

Tanagho, Emil, and Jack McAninch, eds. Smith's General Urology. 14th ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange Publishers, 1995.

PERIODICALS

Portis, Andrew J. and Chandru P. Sundaram. "Diagnosis and Initial Management of Kidney Stones." American Family Physician 63, no. 7 (April 1, 2001): 1329-1338.

Shagam, Janet Yagoda. "Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy." Radiologic Technology 72, no. 2 (November-December 2000): 145-163.