Florida Hospital Best in Care - Fall 2012 - (Page 8)

A Year-Round Of particular concern to Florida residents, many kidney stones can be treated with a simple procedure. Jeﬀrey Brady, MD, Urology Excruciating pain awakened Laurie Panasci, of DeLand, in early 2005. “It was the worst pain I’d ever felt,” she says. “I thought it was a bladder infection, but I was wrong.” After a diagnosis of kidney stones at a local emergency room, Laurie was treated with lithotripsy, a 45-minute outpatient procedure, to alleviate her discomfort. “Lithotripsy is the most common treatment for kidney stones,” says Je rey Brady, MD, a urologist with Winter Park Memorial Hospital, A Florida Hospital. “It eliminates the need for more invasive surgery, and in almost 90 percent of cases, stones are eliminated with a single procedure.” Risk SOUND WAVES TO BREAK UP STONES During the procedure, patients receive sedation or light anesthesia and either sit in a tub of water or on a specialized table that allows urologists to localize the stones and focus treatments. Using sound waves to create strong vibrations (shock waves), the stones are broken into tiny pieces, about the size of a grain of sand, which can be passed in your urine. Most patients are eligible for lithotripsy, although some may not be suitable candidates. Factors such as size, location and number of stones; height; weight; pregnancy; and heart problems may indicate the need for a di erent treatment such as laser or ultrasound. For patients who undergo lithotripsy, recovery usually takes two to three days. “I didn’t feel any pain afterward,” says Laurie. “My husband and I even went scuba diving in the Florida Keys the next week.” HOW STONES FORM As your kidneys ﬁlter waste from your blood, they create urine. Sometimes, salts and other minerals in urine stick together to form small stones. These can range from the size of a sugar crystal to the size of a pea, but they’re rarely noticed until they cause a blockage. Stephen Dobkin, MD, Urology HEALTHY 00tips Replace your soda, juice or coﬀee with a glass of water, and you’ve taken one small but important step toward well-being. SUBSTITUTE WITH WATER 8 For questions or to RSVP to events, call (407) 303-BEST (2378).

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Florida Hospital Best in Care - Fall 2012

Florida Hospital Best in Care - Fall 2012
I Will Survive
A joint replacement option for the fingers
6 tips to reduce painful kidney stones
Don’t miss a beat — heart rhythm disorders revealed

Florida Hospital Best in Care - Fall 2012