Shock wave therapy for kidney and urinary stones is a leading means of urolithiasis and is rapidly being replaced by open surgery in the treatment of ureteral stones.

Coral kidney stones are stones that fill two or more renal calyces, and have a coral-like appearance. Coral kidney stones are also known as struvite stones or infection stones. If left untreated, coral kidney stones can cause pyelonephritis, kidney failure, and systemic poisoning, leading to death.