12/03/2026
🌍 World Kidney Day: visualising stone targeting in SWL
Kidney stone disease is one of the many conditions affecting kidney health worldwide. On World Kidney Day, the focus is on raising awareness of kidney health and the management of kidney-related conditions.
Ultrasound-guided Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) is a non-invasive method for the management of kidney stones. Ultrasound imaging is used to locate and monitor the stone while shock waves fragment it into smaller pieces. This approach allows real-time targeting and treatment monitoring without fluoroscopy.
Key features of ultrasound guidance in SWL
• Dynamic monitoring of the stone
• No radiation exposure
• Fragmentation assessment during SWL
• Applicable in paediatric stone treatment
How does ultrasound guidance support the workflow?
• B-mode identifies and localises the stone
• Twinkling artefact (Colour Doppler) confirms the stone position, and supports continuous visual feedback during treatment
• Spectral Doppler tracking (»Hit and Miss« mode) provides
feedback on the interaction between shock waves and the stone
Interested in learning more about ultrasound-guided SWL? Contact our team for further information.