Medical Treatment Cutting
A revolutionary medical procedure that combines two innovative ultrasound technologies is being developed to address kidney stones, which can cause significant disruptions to the urinary system.
A feasibility study published in The Journal of Urology demonstrates the effectiveness of an advanced approach to relocate or break down kidney stones in the ureter. This technique eliminates the need for anesthesia and minimizes discomfort.
The procedure involves using a handheld transducer positioned on the patient’s skin to direct ultrasound waves toward the stone.
These waves serve two purposes: they can carefully move and reposition the stones to aid their passage, known as ultrasound propulsion, or they can effectively break down the rocks using the burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) technique.
Dr. M. Kennedy
Dr. M. Kennedy Hall, an emergency remedy expert at UW Medicine and lead creator of the study, defined the principle advantage of this method compared to the traditional approach known as surprise wave lithotripsy, which calls for sedation.
Dr. Hall emphasized that this generation is painless and no longer requires sedation, unlike the modern-day general process of surprise wave lithotripsy.It can be performed while the patient is awake and without sedation, which is essential.
The research team anticipates that this groundbreaking technology could eventually be implemented within a clinical or emergency room environment, providing kidney stone sufferers with more accessible and patient-friendly Medical Treatment alternatives.
Emergency Department
Kidney stones frequently cause intense pain when they get stuck in the ureter, which is the tube linking the kidney and the bladder.
This condition often results in visits to the emergency department. Patients with ureteral stones are usually recommended to wait and observe if the stone will pass on its own, although this can take several weeks. Dr. Hall reports that approximately one-fourth of patients eventually need surgery.
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According to statistics, it has been observed that approximately one in every 11 Americans will encounter urinary stones at some stage of their lives. Surprisingly, the incidence of kidney stones is increasing, as research conducted by UW Medicine uses the same technology.
This study further revealed that up to 50% of patients who experience a stone event will likely have a recurrence within five years.
Treating Kidney Stones
Dr. Hall and his colleagues undertook this research endeavor to meet the urgent requirement for a non-invasive method of treating kidney stones, eliminating the necessity for surgical intervention.
Dr. Hall explained that the study’s main objective was to evaluate the practicality of using ultrasonic propulsion and BWL to relocate or break down stones in awake and unanesthetized patients.
The study involved a total of twenty-nine patients. Sixteen patients received propulsion-only Medical Treatment, while thirteen received propulsion and burst wave lithotripsy. In nineteen cases, the stones successfully shifted within the ureter, whereas in two cases, the ston es moved into the bladder.
Kidney Stones
Burst wave lithotripsy effectively fragmented the stones in seven cases. Two weeks later, 86% of patients with stones located lower in the ureter, closer to the bladder, successfully passed their stones.
One of the participants in the study experienced “immediate relief” when the stone was dislodged from the ureter. This highlights the potential of this technique to provide quick relief to individuals with kidney stones.
The team’s next research phase includes a clinical trial featuring a control group that won’t receive BWL bursts or ultrasound propulsion. This trial aims to assess the effectiveness of this innovative technology in improving the passage of kidney stones.
5 Year NASA
Five years ago, NASA initiated a study investigating the relocation or disintegration of kidney stones without anesthesia during extended space missions.
The purpose was to address concerns related to Mars exploration. The results of this groundbreaking technique have been encouraging, leading NASA to downgrade kidney stones as a significant concern for these missions. Dr. Hall expressed excitement, stating, “We now have a potential solution for that problem.”
Washington Medical Center-Northwest
The study began in 2018 and was conducted on patients at multiple medical facilities, including Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center-Montlake, and the Northwest Kidney Stone Center at the University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest.
The research involved collaboration between experts from the University of Washington School of Medicine’s departments of emergency medicine, urology, radiology, and the UW Applied Physics Laboratory.
This trial conducted by UW Medicine is the first to explore the relocation or disintegration of kidney stones within the ureter using BWL.
Previous attempts have primarily focused on breaking apart kidney stones inside the kidneys.
This marks a significant milestone in kidney stone Medical Treatment with the potential for this non-invasive approach to revolutionize the management of kidney stones. It offers hope to millions who may benefit from this innovative technology.