Medical Intervention For Relief From Kidney Stones
When a patient is diagnosed with kidney stones, doctors try numerous non-surgical techniques to try and dissolve the kidney stones. However, if the kidney stones do not move through the ureter within 30 days, or cause high discomfort to the patient, surgical removal of the stones is considered. The urologists may choose between several procedures to break up, remove or pass kidney stones.
Here are few of the common treatments for kidney stones,
Ureteroscopy:
Is a stone removal procedure commonly used to remove or break up larger stones, located in the ureter. A special instrument known as a ureteroscope is inserted through the urethra and passed through the bladder into the ureter to access the stone. Upon locating the stone, the urologist either removes it using small tools inserted through the ureteroscope or breaks up the stone with a laser to ease the natural passage. Ureteroscopy for kidney stone removal treatment may be performed under general or regional anaesthesia.
Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy (PCNL surgery)
A kidney stone operation that is performed under local anaesthesia, Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy is the removal of kidney stones through the kidney.
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Performed from a small incision through the patient’s back, from which instrument and a camera are used to access the inside of the kidney. The surgeon then manipulates the surgical instruments through the tubes to fragment and remove the kidney stones. The patient requires overnight hospitalisation after a kidney stone operation.
In cases where the stones are too large the urologist may require breaking down the kidney stone for removal using Lithotripsy.
Lithotripsy can be effectively used for kidney stones located in the kidney or upper ureter. Lithotripsy involves breaking the stone into tiny particles that can pass naturally, using special machines.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a commonly used lithotripsy procedure, where focused shock waves are projected onto the stone from outside the body, to help break the same. Larger stones may require more than one ESWL treatment.
Open Surgery
An open kidney stone operation is performed under general anaesthesia. An incision is made in the patient’s back and the stone is extracted through an incision in the ureter or kidney. This procedure is rarely used for kidney stones due to the elongated recovery period.
Upon experiencing pain or uncomfortable symptoms of kidney stones, one must undergo a thorough evaluation at a reputable healthcare centre, where an expert urologist will examine the location and size of the kidney stone using the appropriate diagnostic techniques. The urologist will evaluate the need for medical intervention for kidney stone removal and recommend the appropriate method for comprehensive relief.
