Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Kidney Stones Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have this procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications which may include:

• Blood in the urine
• Bruising in the back or abdomen
• Infection
• Pain as the stone fragments pass
• Failure of stone fragments to pass, requiring additional surgery
• Need for additional treatments
• Reaction to anesthesia

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Bleeding disorders or taking medicines that reduce blood clotting
• Obesity
• Skeletal deformities
• Presence of a pacemaker
• Presence of a dilated aorta ( aneurysm )

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Extreme urge or inability to urinate
• Excessive blood in your urine
• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after the procedure
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• Pain between your ribs and back as the stones pass

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.