Kidney Stone Treatment

Staghorn stones are large, branched stones occupying a large volume of the kidneys. The most effective treatment option is percutaneous nephrolithotomy, where the urologist inserts a scope directly into the kidney via a 1/2 inch tract made in your flank.... Full Answer

Treatments help remove kidney stones, using one or more of these strategies: Breaking up the stone so the smaller pieces can pass (a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or ESWL, sometimes called "shocking") Removing the stone... Full Answer

ESWL stands for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, a procedure that uses focused shock waves to break up kidney stones. This is what you can expect during the procedure: Getting ready. In most cases, you'll have an IV placed in your wrist or... Full Answer

Risks of ureteroscopy to remove kidney stones include bleeding, infection, or injury to the ureter in rare cases. Sometimes the ureter is very narrow and will not allow the small scope to move up to the level of the stone. In these cases, you may... Full Answer

Ureteroscopy involves going up through your bladder and ureter to find and remove the kidney stone. This is what you can expect during the procedure: General anesthesia. You'll have medication so you sleep through the surgery and have no sensation... Full Answer

In percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy, the surgeon makes a small incision in your back to remove kidney stones. He or she then puts a hollow tube into your kidney and a probe through the tube. In nephrolithotomy, the surgeon removes the... Full Answer

This is what you can expect during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) surgery to remove kidney stones: General anesthesia. You'll have medication so you sleep through the surgery and have no sensation or memory of it. Inserting a tube. Your... Full Answer

Risks of this procedure include: Bleeding. Holes (perforation) in the kidney. They usually heal without further treatment. Injury to other abdominal organs, such as the bladder or colon. Damage that affects normal kidney function. Full Answer

The risks of open surgery to remove a kidney stone include: Severe bleeding. Infection. Risks linked with anesthesia. An increased risk of getting a hernia where the cut was made for surgery. There also is the risk that the kidney may be... Full Answer

In open surgery to remove kidney stones, the surgeon uses an incision in the person's abdomen or side to reach the kidney and remove the stones. He or she then puts a small tube (catheter) near the kidney to drain urine until the kidney heals. Full Answer