Kidney Stone Removal Procedures

Kidney Stone Removal Procedures: Some Things A Doctor Can Do To Treat A Painful Condition.

Kidney stones are made up of mineral salts and acids deposited on the kidneys. If very small, they can be passed without pain. Larger stones that get caught in the urinary tract cause discomfort. There are several kidney stone removal procedures a doctor can perform to ease the pain and get rid of the stone. The type of Kidney stone removal procedure a doctor can order depends on the size, location, and type of kidney stone. Many kidney stones are small enough to not require any surgical kidney stone removal procedures. A patient is told to drink two to three quarts of water a day and remain active.

Medications to relieve pain and relax the ureter may also be given. If the stone is small enough it may be passed within 72 hours. For kidney stones that are too large to be passed naturally, there are surgical kidney stone removal procedures which a doctor may order to help a patient. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy, (SWL), is for kidney stones less than one centimeter in size. Shock waves are sent through the patients body to break up the stone while the patient is either under water or lying on a cushion. The broken fragments are easily passed by the patient though this can take some months.

For stones lodged in the ureter or kidney. Ureteroscopic stone removal, the insertion of a ureteroscope in to the ureter and the breaking up of the stone sometimes with laser can be done. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is used for stones which are too big to be broken with SWL. An instrument called a nephroscope is passed through an opening in the back to the kidney and is used to break up or remove the stone. Some calcium stones can be caused by a growth on a parathyroid gland which must be removed by a surgeon.