Great Leap Forward: Kidney Stone Removal sans surgery and hospitalization now in Cagayan de Oro

Personal health care and medical tourism has just taken a giant leap forward with the recent introduction in Cagayan de Oro of the first machine capable of removing kidney stones without surgery and hospitalization.

Officially inaugurated in December 17 by the Kagay-an Kidney Center, the new generation lithotripter was imported from Germany´s Dornier company which pioneered the procedure in 1980 and has now installed over 1,000 lithotripters and successfully treated over 5,000,000 patients worldwide.

"Kidney stones one centimeter or smaller are best treated with oral medications," said Dr. Harry G. Longno, vice president of the Kagay-an Kidney Center. "However, those bigger in size up to 2.5 cm. when treated with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) enjoy a success rate of over 90 per cent."

With the Kagay-an Kidney Center´s third-generation, state-of-the-art Dornier Compact Sigma lithotripter, Longno said patients undergoing ESWL can go home immediately after their sedation wears off and don´t have to stay in the hospital. In many cases, ESWL can be conducted on an outpatient basis. Recovery time is relatively short, and most people can resume normal activities in a few days.

"We have already successfully treated some 20 patients from as far as Iligan and Pagadian since this machine arrived and none of them have complained of any pain or discomfort during of after the procedure," said Dr. Dionisio T. Gaw, president.

Until 20 years ago, Gaw said open surgery was necessary to remove a stone and often required a recovery time of 4 to 6 weeks.

"Today, treatment for these stones is greatly improved, and many options do not require major open surgery and can be performed in an outpatient setting," said Dr. Gregorio Cordovez, Jr. "However, even modern procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopic stone removal which may be needed for cases not suitable for ESWL often require post operative hospital stay."

Compared to open surgery, ESWL using the Dornier Compact Sigma lithotripter costs up to 60% less and do not require hospitalization, resulting in much lower costs for a comparable procedure.

Dr. Arturo F. Surdilla, assistant administrator and board member, said the Kagay-an Kidney Center has applied for Philhealth accreditation and is now talking to major health care companies to bring down the cost of treatment even further.

Interested parties can contact the Kagay-an Kidney Center through tel. nos. (88) 857-8855, mobile 0917-545-0480 or email kagayankidneycenter@yahoo.com or visit them at their clinic at the ground floor of the CDT-KAI Building, Archbishop Santiago Hayes St., Pinikitan (facing Maria Reyna Hospital) Cagayan de Oro City.