Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

This article reviews the basic anesthetic considerations for ESWL and PCNL. General principles governing the operation of lithotripters, elements of treatment that impinge on safety, and effective intraoperative anesthesia and complications that may be encountered in the perioperative period are discussed. Factors influencing blood loss and concerns arising from positioning patients prone are addressed in the sections devoted to PCNL.