Kidney stone surgery may be required if one is unlucky enough to have a stone too large to pass comfortably through the urinary tract. Kidney stones are generally caused by excess mineral buildup and typically are small enough to be vacated along with the urine stream. However, some stones are larger and can block the urethra, causing infections and/or tearing of the lining of the urinary tract, resulting in extraordinarily pain. In those cases, kidney stone surgery may be vital to remove or destroy a stone.
The most common type of kidney stone surgery is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, commonly known as ESWL. In performing ESWL, the doctor will first need to determine exactly where the stone is located by x-ray or sonogram. The patient will likely receive anesthesia and the doctor will then send shock waves through the body using a small electronic device. The shock waves will easily travel through the soft bodily tissues but will shatter the dense kidney stone into small pieces. The patient can then pass the small pieces of stone naturally. After receiving treatment, the patient may experience pain or bruising in the lower back area. ESWL can usually be performed as out-patient surgery.
Another type of kidney stone surgery is percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This is a more invasive type of surgery requiring the surgeon to make an incision in the patient’s body to remove the stone from the kidney, bladder, or urinary tract. This type of surgery may be done when the stone is so large that even if shattered may be too uncomfortable to pass naturally. Like any invasive surgery, loss of blood and infection are potential if rare side effects and therefore a longer hospital stay may be required for recovery.
A third common type of kidney stone surgery is ureteroscopic stone removal. This type of kidney stone surgery may be recommended when the stone is low in the urethral tract. Unlike ESWL where the stone is shattered, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy where an incision is made into the body, a ureteroscopy is performed by inserting a small tube through the urethra and into the ureter to pull the stone out. The tube may have to stay in the ureter for a few days to encourage further drainage and therefore this type of surgery may also require staying a few nights in the hospital.
Kidney stone surgery is unnecessary for most types of small kidney stones, but can be essential if the stone is too large to pass comfortably when nature calls. There are three common types of kidney stone surgery, the first involving shattering the stone into small enough pieces to pass naturally, the second making an incision into the body to remove the stone surgically, and the third type of surgery which involves passing a tube through the urethra to remove the stone from the ureter. The type of surgery that is best will depend on the size and location of the stone. Kidney stone surgery may be a welcome relief for those suffering with large stones.
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