ESWL (Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy) is a procedure to break up stones inside the urinary tract, bile ducts or pancreatic duct with a series of shock waves generated by a machine called a lithotripter.

SURGICAL FORCE—CORRELATING SCIENCE WITH PRACTICE: A STUDY OF THE FORCE EXERTED BY UROLOGISTS DURING URETERAL ACCESS SHEATH PLACEMENT

Medications to help pass stones may work by relaxing these ureteral muscles – resulting in a wider and less constricting ureter for stones to more easily pass through.