A new technique that combines two ultrasound technologies may provide a way to remove kidney stones from the ureter with little discomfort and without the need for anesthesia, according to a study published in the journal of Urology.

The specialists assessed the novel technology to address the demand for a method to cure stones without surgery. The stones can then be moved and repositioned to facilitate passage using an ultrasound technique known as ultrasonic propulsion, or they can be broken up using a method known as burst wave lithotripsy (BWL). The study′s objective was to evaluate the viability of breaking up stones in awake, non-anesthetized individuals using either BWL or ultrasonic propulsion.

The study involved 29 patients. Thirteen patients had propulsion and burst wave lithotripsy, and sixteen received propulsion alone. Stone movement occurred in 19 patients. After two weeks of follow-up, the results showed that 18 of 21 patients (86%) passed their stones, whose stones were found to be located in the ureter, closer to the bladder. The average time to stone passage in this group was almost four days. One patient felt immediate relief when the stone was dislodged from the ureter.

This is the first trial to examine the effects of BWL on shifting or dissolving stones in the ureter.

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