Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses targeted shockwaves to break up kidney stones and gallstones. As a form of extracorporeal lithotripsy, it is distinctive because its shockwaves are produced by a vaporization bubble that repeatedly expands and collapses, creating a pressure wave; the procedure is non-invasive and has a 90 percent success rate, making it a first-line treatment for smaller kidney stones. It was invented in 1954 by an engineer from Kyiv as the first modern extracorporeal lithotripter, though because he was out of favor with Stalin's government its use was delayed by around ten years. The procedure also treats gallstones lodged in the bile or pancreatic ducts that are difficult to remove by other means, and while it is less expensive than laser lithotripsy, it carries a greater risk of ureteral injury; when used on gallstones it can be paired with a spyglass camera passed through the throat, esophagus, stomach and duodenum to visualize the duct.