3 Key Takeaways:
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a sound wave technology used to break up and remove kidney stones.
- Ureteroscopy and Laser Lithotripsy is an invasive alternative to ESWL and can be used to remove kidney stones as well.
- Advanced Urology Institute in Orange City, FL is a specialist in kidney stone removal with a dedicated focus on patient care.
Imagine, if you will, a situation in which you’re dealing with kidney stones. The pain, the discomfort, it’s all too real. What then becomes vital is understanding the right removal procedures to regain your health and ease your pain. Quynh Dao Tonnu, a skilled Physician Assistant at Advanced Urology Institute in Orange City, FL, walks us through two key kidney stone removal procedures that form the bedrock of treatment.
Unraveling ESWL: Sound Wave Technology for Kidney Stone Removal
The first type of procedure, Tonnu elucidates, is from the “outside”. It’s called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy or ESWL. In words that are comforting, she explains that it is a process that uses “sound wave technology to pound your kidney from the outside to break up the kidney stone.” The fragments are then passed naturally by the body. Given Tonnu’s robust foundation in urology, you can rest assured that you’re in capable hands.
The Post-Procedure Protocol: Collection and Testing
After the ESWL procedure, the process doesn’t end there. Patients are instructed to collect the stone fragments for testing. The goal here is to identify the kind of stone they produce, Tonnu discloses. This is a critical step in prevention – understanding what kind of stones the body is producing can drastically reduce the chances of recurrence.
Taking a Closer Look: Ureteroscopy and Laser Lithotripsy
The other procedure that Tonnu highlights is called ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. Tonnu, with her characteristic precision, explains, “the doctor would go in through the urethra, go up into the bladder and then go to the area where the stone is obstructing, laser the stone into bits and then basket it out.” This procedure is a more invasive alternative to ESWL, but it is equally effective in the removal of kidney stones.
The Stent Situation: A Case-by-Case Requirement
Tonnu is quick to point out that after the laser lithotripsy, there may be a need for a stent, depending on the situation. The meticulous approach she exhibits in explaining this showcases the level of care and attention to detail you can expect at Advanced Urology Institute.
In the Hands of a Specialist: Advanced Urology Institute
In a world where healthcare often feels impersonal and cold, it’s refreshing to find a place that puts the patient first. Tonnu’s deep empathy and understanding of her patients’ pain points are unsurprisingly a reflection of the ethos at Advanced Urology Institute. Located in Orange City, FL, they are the largest urology practice in Florida, and their dedication to patient care is unmatched.
Kidney Stone Removal might seem daunting, but when you’re under the care of experts like Quynh Dao Tonnu, PA-C, and the team at Advanced Urology Institute, it becomes a lot more manageable. The pain of kidney stones will soon be a thing of the past, and your health and comfort will once again be restored.
References:
- “Ureteroscopy – National Kidney Foundation.” https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/kidneystones_ureteroscopy.
- “Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).” https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/kidney-stones/extracorporeal-shock-wave-lithotripsy-eswl.
- “Laser Lithotripsy: Purpose, Procedure, Risks & Results.” 20 Sep. 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/16285-holmium-laser-lithotripsy.
Transcription:
My name is Quynh Dao Tonnu, I’m the physician assistant at Advanced Urology. So there’s two types, there’s the one, it’s from the outside, it’s called ESWL and it’s basically a machine using sound wave technology to pound your kidney from the outside to break up the kidney stone and then you pass the fragments.
We usually have the patients collect the stone fragments for testing to see what kind of stone they produce so we can prevent the recurrence. The other procedure is the ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy where the doctor would go in through the urethra, go up into the bladder and then go to the area where the stone is obstructing, laser the stone into bits and then basket it out.
So they’ll try to collect most of the pieces out and the patient may need a stent, they may not depending on the situation.
