In the past 10 years, scientists have made leaps and bounds in finding better ways to rid patients of their kidney stones. One of the major advances has been the development of laser lithotripsy treatment. This treatment, unlike surgery, is able to break down kidney stones without making any incisions on the patient's body.

Laser lithotripsy uses a laser that is mounted on a flexible fiber endoscope. The scope is entered into the patient's body through the urethra, and pushed along until the stone is reached. Once the stone is discovered, the laser is activated and the stone is completely vaporized. After this procedure is completed, the patient is usually able to resume their daily lifestyle in one or two days.

This method is quickly replacing another type of lithotripsy, which utilizes shock waves. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or EWSL, uses external shockwaves aimed at the stone to crush them into smaller, more passable pieces. The advantage to using lasers instead of shockwaves is that they are more effective on complex stones. Lasers have also been proven to have a higher first time success rate.

Laser lithotripsy does have some minor complications associated with it, such as bleeding. Side effects aside though, it is viewed by many to be the most effective way to destroy stones that cannot be passed through the urinary tract. For more information on this, and other methods for reducing kidney stones, contact a doctor or urologist at a medical center which performs laser lithotripsy.