Rotary Lithotripsy Ambulance – what is this?: This Ambulance will provide world-class Lithotripsy care in a mobile bus to the patients suffering from highly painful kidney stones who are living  in small towns and villages in the Rotary District of 3080. Renowned Urologist Dr Ketan Shukla, who has been running a Lithotripsy Ambulance for the last 12 years and has treated over 10,000 patients, has voluntarily agreed to be the Honorary Advisor to the Rotary Lithotripsy Ambulance.

Kidney Stones – What are these? Kidney stones are the result of a buildup of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys. Kidney stones can grow to the size of a golf ball while maintaining a sharp, crystalline structure. If the stones are small, doctors advise you drink lots of water/beer so that they pass through the urinary tract. But in case the stones are large or are blocking  the urinary tract they can cause extreme pain. If left untreated, they may even cause renal failure and death in some cases. In such cases, Lithotripsy is the preferred treatment world-wide. Through shock  waves, the stone is broken into small pieces and allowed to pass through the urinary tract. Unlike regular surgery, the skin is not cut open in this line of treatment, there is no suturing, no blood loss and recovery is relatively faster.

The need for Lithotripsy: Rural, Semi Urban and midsized communities have a great need for Lithotripsy, but hospitals in these areas do not have the technology and surgeons for the treatment. This is where the Rotary Lithotripsy Ambulance will help the community and provide Urology treatment to the remote and inaccessible areas of the country. The Rotary Lithotripsy Ambulance will travel to various towns on a pre-planned schedule and help local Urologists and other Surgeons in doing Lithotripsy at the doorstep of the patients. It will have spacious air-conditioned Hospital styled interiors, a high quality Lithotripter named ‘Direx with Ultima Generator’, U.P.S. (for back up) and Anesthesia Trolley. Rotary will  also runs free camps  to spread awareness about Kidney disease, Stone ailments, their reasons and cure.

The pain of kidney stones is too acute to make a patient travel any distance. In such a scenario, the Rotary Lithotripsy Ambulance  will operate upon them and relieve them from pain in no time. The greatest benefit for patients here will be  that they will not have to travel any distance to get their Lithotripsy done. This mobile service will  be a boon for kidney stone patients.

Cost of the Project: This is estimated at Rs. 1.5 crores and includes the cost of :