The new Hospital Nacional Rosales in San Salvador has introduced a service that changes the game for kidney stone patients: extracorporeal lithotripsy, a non-invasive procedure that destroys kidney stones from outside the body, without a single incision, and at no cost to the patient.
How It Works
During the inauguration tour, Dr. Josely, a Venezuelan urology specialist, explained the technology:
“It’s a non-invasive procedure. With an arm placed under the patient, we use high-energy shock waves to crush or dissolve kidney stones from outside the body — no surgery needed.”
The stone is broken into tiny fragments (like sand) that the patient can then pass naturally through the urinary tract.
The machine combines two imaging technologies for precision:
- Ultrasound
- High-definition X-ray
This allows doctors to locate the stone with accuracy and deliver the shock waves exactly where needed.
Who Can Be Treated?
According to Dr. Josely, the equipment does not exclude any type of patient. It works with equal effectiveness for:
- Young patients
- Obese patients
- Elderly patients with underlying conditions
- Complex stones with low mobility
Why It Matters
Before this hospital, a Salvadoran with kidney stones had two options:
- Surgery — invasive, with risks, longer recovery
- Private treatment — expensive, out of reach for most
Now there is a third option: walk into the Rosales, get treated with shock waves, and walk out — no wounds, no scalpels, no bills.
At a Glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Non-invasive, shock wave therapy |
| Incisions | None |
| Eligible patients | All ages and conditions |
| Cost | 100% free |
| Waiting time | Not specified during inauguration |
Why This Matters for an International Audience
Extracorporeal lithotripsy is not new technology worldwide. What makes this story noteworthy is where it is being offered: in a public, free hospital in a developing nation, with equipment that uses both ultrasound and high-definition X-ray for precision, staffed by international specialists, and available at zero cost to patients.
In El Salvador where the public health system was neglected by past administrations — both a socialist party and right-wing governments — the current administration has invested in a way that benefits the Salvadoran people.
The socialist party held power for 10 years and left the health system equal to or worse than they found it. Today, the government provides Salvadorans with medical technology that allows them to receive the best treatment that current public medical technology can offer — available to them whenever they need it.
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