75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 • 631.473.1320

Mather Hospital has arranged with Allied Urological Services, LLC, the leading provider of lithotripsy services in the metropolitan area, to bring a state-of-the-art mobile lithotripsy machine to the hospital. Lithotripsy is available at Mather Hospital every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday, and 2nd and 4th Tuesday.

What is Lithotripsy?

There are several forms of lithotripsy. The most common is extracorporeal ultra-sound wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Extracorporeal means outside the body. Extracorporeal ultra-sound wave lithotripsy is a procedure used for treating kidney stones that does not require surgery. High energy ultra-sound waves are sent through the body breaking stones into small, granular pieces, which then easily pass through the body in urine.

Treatment

Patients treated for kidney stones at Mather Hospital will be treated by their urologist with the assistance of a board-certified anesthesiologist and a certified lithotripsy specialist. The patient lies on top of a soft cushion through which the waves pass. It takes about 1,000 – 2,000 ultra-sound waves to break up the stones. Lithotripsy takes approximately 45 minutes, with a short period following the procedure for rest and recovery.

Advantages

Many patients may be treated without surgery. So, complications, hospital stays, costs and recovery time are reduced.

What to Expect After Treatment

The patient can move about almost immediately. Patients should be sure to have an adult family member or friend available to escort them home. Patients do not need to stay over night and can usually resume normal activities within a day or two. Drinking plenty of water helps the stone fragments pass.

In order to make an appointment for lithotripsy, speak to your urologist. Or, call Mather Hospital for more information at (631) 476-2888.