The best treatment for staghorn kidney stones is through percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
Kidney Stone Treatment
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Intermountain Healthcare answeredSee All 2 AnswersTreatments 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 through the ureter (a procedure called ureteroscopy, sometimes called "basketing")
- Removing the stone from the kidney (a procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or PCNL, and sometimes called PERC)
- Holding the ureter open using a temporary tube called a stent so stone fragments pass more easily
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While lithotripsy is not mandatory for all kidney stones, the majority of them would benefit from it.
This is because stones grow over time, can cause sudden severe pain requiring an Emergency room visit or admission to the hospital, and in some cases cause chronic blockage of the kidney thereby causing kidney failure.
In some cases, the stone is small enough 2-3mm to pass by itself, but it is wise to see a urologist and get follow-up Xrays to make sure they are indeed passed, and not causing any problems.
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Learn about the various options for treating kidney stones, from letting a kidney stone pass on its own, to surgical intervention. Watch this video with urologist Kyle Himsl, MD from Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center. -
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National Kidney Foundation answeredSee All 3 AnswersShock wave therapy, also called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), treats kidney stones using high-energy shock waves, without the need for surgery. Stones in the kidney or ureters (the tubes going from the kidneys to the bladder) are broken into "stone dust" or fragments that are small enough to pass in urine. lf large pieces remain, another treatment can be performed. About 1,000 to 2,000 shock waves are needed to crush the stones. -
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Dr. Arthur R. Crowley, MD , Urology, answeredSodium Bicarbonate (chewable tablets or powder) is probably the only readily available over-the-counter (OTC) medication to treat uric acid kidney stones. It is useful in patients who have persistent acidic urine as the cause of their uric acid stones. Patients must test their urine regularly with pH paper (which turns different colors depending on whether the urine is acidic or alkaline). Too much sodium bicarbonate will make the urine too alkaline and promote the formation of calcium phosphate stones.
Note: Consult your health care provider before starting any OTC or other medication. Patients taking sodium bicarbonate may experience an increase in side effects or a decrease in effectiveness of their current medications. -
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Dr. Arthur R. Crowley, MD , Urology, answeredInfected kidney stones should be removed shortly after detection or diagnosis. The infected stones generally grow rapidly and serve as a nidus (or center) for further stone formation. This stone matrix is believed to protect the bacteria from antibiotics. In essence, antibiotics cannot clear the associated infection unless the stone material is completely removed.
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National Kidney Foundation answeredSee All 2 AnswersExtracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is effective for certain types of kidney stones. Very large stones cannot be treated this way. The size and shape of stone, where it is lodged in the urinary tract, your health and the health of your kidneys are all part of the decision to use it. Stones that are smaller than 2 cm in diameter are the best size for ESWL.
ESWL is more appropriate for some people than others. Because x-rays and shock waves are needed in ESWL, pregnant women with kidney stones are not treated this way. People with bleeding disorders, infections, severe skeletal abnormalities or who are morbidly obese also do not usually have their kidney stones treated with ESWL. lf your kidneys have other abnormalities, your doctor may decide you should have a different treatment. lf you have a cardiac pacemaker, a cardiologist will decide if you can have ESWL. -
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Dr. Darria Gillespie, MD , Emergency Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersMany kidney stones will pass on their own--but you could be absolutely miserable in the meantime, depending on their size (and if not, they could make you very sick). Depending on the size of the stone, treatment can include: prescription medication to accelerate and ease the passage of the stone, pain medications, and (if it's large enough or blocked) a procedure to break up the stone.
If it's your first kidney stone (in which case you may be trying to self-diagnose, which is dangerous), your pain is severe, the pain is not going away, you have a fever or vomiting, if you've had complications from kidney stones in the past or any other concerns, then it's a good idea to see your doctor to find out which of the treatments will be best for you. -
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National Kidney Foundation answeredThe procedures used to remove large kidney stones -- percutaneous nephrolithotomy and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy -- require general anesthesia and a short hospital stay, usually two or three days. The recovery time takes a week or so. Depending on the position of the stone, the procedure itself takes about 20 to 45 minutes. The goal is to take out all of the stones so that none are left to pass through the urinary tract.