The Kidney Stone Surgery

The kidney stone surgery removal can involve multiple modalities.  The simplest procedure is to slide a very thin wire up through a thin visual scope called a ureteroscope up into the ureter and then open a wire basket, grab the kidney stone and slide the stone out. Another procedure uses a Holmium laser through the ureteroscope to aim at the kidney stone and break it so that it can be rinsed out or pulled out. Still another method called a percutaneous nephrolithotomy is to go through a small hole in the back and aim the holmium laser, at the kidney stone or break the stone up that is stuck in the kidney itself.  These surgeries take place in the operating room under anesthesia.

The kidney stone surgery that will be used is based on the size, position, and number of kidney stones in the kidney, ureter, the bladder or urethra. Sometimes the kidney stone works its way down from the kidney and ureter into the bladder (bladder stone) and the urologist needs to pull it out with a basket or grasper, or break it apart with a laser inside the bladder.

Once the kidney stone is retrieved it is usually analyzed for its composition. The composition of the kidney stone may help prevent future kidney stones from being created with a change of diet, supplements or medication. When kidney stones are initially found to be in the urinary tract the first thing that is tried is to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the stone down the ureter and out of the bladder. Many people will use natural alternative medicine for kidney stones so they can either 1) flush them out or 2) to stop them from growing in the first place.

The kidney stone surgery if unsuccessful in breaking it up into small pieces is usually followed by an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) which is a device that sends sound waves from outside the body and directs them into a focal point of the kidney stone and in that way breaking it up. An ESWL may be used a second time if it does not break the stone(s) the first time. In either case the stone fragments are flushed out of the urinary tract in the days following the ESWL. The kidney doctors with the Urology Specialists group will quickly diagnose, and treat your kidney stones or kidney cancer so call or make an appointment online for the time and date that fits your schedule.

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