Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are small, hard mineral deposits that build up in the urinary tract. These stones are usually about the size of a pea but may be much larger. Most kidney stones pass through the ureters, the tubes leading from the kidneys to the bladder, into the bladder. Sometimes stones get stuck in the kidney,ureter or bladder and cause a painful obstruction. Obstruction can lead to infection, and serious kidney damage if not treated appropriately.

Options for treatment:

Spontaneous passage.
Patients sometimes will pass small (less than 4mm.) without any intervention. If the patient has a fever, nausea and vomiting or intractable pain then intervention is required.

Ureteral Procedures.
Small stones located in the ureter and close to the bladder often are handled with instrumentation under anesthesia. A telescope is inserted into the bladder and up the ureter (tube which connects the Kidney to the bladder). Under direct vision, the stone may be grasped with a tiny mesh basket and removed intact. When a stone is too large to grasp intact then a laser is used to break up the stone into small fragments which are then removed. After this procedure a stent is often placed to handle swelling in the ureter from the stone and the instrumentation. The stent may be left in for several days to weeks depending on the condition.

ESWL (Lithotripsy).
This procedure directs focused sound wave energy at the stone. The energy causes the stone to be converted into small fragments which then usually pass spontaneously. Stones in the Kidney as well as some Ureteral stones may be handled with this technique and technology.

<< return to areas of focus