ESWL — Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy — uses precisely focused shock waves, generated outside your body, to break kidney and ureteric stones into fragments small enough to pass naturally in your urine. No cuts. No hospital stay. Home the same day.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy is the least invasive way to treat kidney stones. "Extracorporeal" simply means "outside the body" — the entire treatment happens without any instrument entering you.
You lie comfortably on the treatment table while our specialists locate your stone precisely using imaging. The machine's therapy head is then positioned against your skin, and thousands of focused shock waves pass harmlessly through your body tissue, converging only at the stone itself — crushing it into sand-like fragments.
Over the following days and weeks, those fragments pass naturally when you urinate. Most patients describe the procedure as a repetitive tapping sensation, managed easily with light sedation and pain relief.
Four simple stages — from arrival to walking out the same day.
Your stone is located to the millimetre using imaging, and the shock wave head is aligned with the stone — not the tissue around it.
Under light sedation, several thousand acoustic pulses pass painlessly through skin and muscle, converging only at the stone.
The repeated pressure waves fracture the stone into fine, sand-like fragments over the course of the session.
You go home the same day. The fragments pass naturally in your urine over the following days, with follow-up imaging to confirm clearance.
Honest guidance matters. ESWL is excellent for many stones — and when it isn't the best option, we offer the alternatives under the same roof.
Every patient is assessed individually. Your specialist will review your imaging and medical history and recommend the safest, most effective option for your specific stone — whether that's ESWL, ureteroscopy or PCNL, all of which are available at URO-CARE.
Most patients feel a repetitive tapping or flicking sensation rather than pain. Light sedation and pain relief are given before the session to keep you comfortable throughout.
A typical session lasts 45–60 minutes. Including preparation and a short recovery period, you should plan for a half-day visit — and you go home the same day.
Many stones clear after a single session. Larger or harder stones sometimes require a repeat treatment a few weeks later. Follow-up imaging tells us exactly how your stone responded.
The shock waves reduce the stone to fine, sand-like fragments that pass naturally in your urine over the following days to weeks. Drinking plenty of water helps them along.
Mild flank soreness, light bruising of the skin, and traces of blood in the urine for a few days are common and expected. Serious complications are rare, and your specialist will discuss your individual risk profile before treatment.
We work with most major Kenyan insurance providers. Contact us with your insurance details on +254 112 268 709 and we will confirm your coverage before your appointment.
Book a consultation with our stone specialists. Same-week appointments, no referral required — and if ESWL is right for you, treatment can often be scheduled within days.