Lithotripsy Service

The Freeman Hospital is the sole provider of lithotripsy treatment in the North East of England, a specialist technique that treats stones which have developed in the kidney and ureter (the tube that takes the urine from the kidney to the bladder).

An innovative and minimally invasive technique called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is used to treat the stones without the need for surgery. Instead, using either x-ray or an ultrasound scan to localise the stone, high energy shock waves are passed through the body to break the stones into tiny pieces which will pass through the body when you urinate.

This minimally invasive treatment means you can come into the unit, have your treatment and return home the same day, to enjoy a rapid and stress free recovery.

Whilst the majority of small kidney stones can be treated using Lithotripsy, large stones are not suitable for this type of treatment and will require removal using other methods such as an operating telescope. 

See Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for more information on this form of treatment.