Which treatment uses shock waves to break up kidney stones?

• A. Lithotripsy
• B. Antibiotics
• C. Insulin therapy
• D. Dialysis

Answer: (A)

Treating kidney stones with shock waves to break them into smaller pieces is lithotripsy. In this procedure, external shock waves are focused onto the stone inside the kidney or urinary tract. The energy creates cracks in the stone, fragmenting it so the pieces can pass more easily through the urinary system. This approach is especially useful for stones that are too large to pass on their own or are causing obstruction or pain, and it often requires anesthesia or analgesia during the procedure and may need more than one session.

Antibiotics address infection or prevent infection related to stones but do not break the stone itself. Insulin therapy is used to manage blood sugar in diabetes, not stone fragmentation. Dialysis replaces some kidney functions when kidneys fail, rather than addressing stones directly.