Sometimes kidney stones are small enough to pass through the urinary tract and be excreted during urination. Usually, you will pass a kidney stone within 72 hours after the beginning of symptoms. Your physician may ask that you urinate through a strainer so the stone can be analyzed and better follow-up treatment tailored to your specific needs. However, with a fever, urinary tract infection, pain that is not controlled with medication or persistent vomiting, your physician will recommend a surgical removal option.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
ESWL attempts to break up the kidney stones into smaller pieces so they can be excreted with the urine. It is the most frequently used treatment for kidney stones. It is generally an outpatient procedure and may require a second treatment if the stone does not break the first time. According to Georgetown University Hospital, sometimes the smaller particles may remain and form into new stones. In order to prevent this from happening Georgetown University Hospital physicians developed procedures that utilize large fluid intake and gravitational flow. You are instructed to follow this protocol at home over the two weeks following the procedure to encourage the flow of urine and particles out of the kidney.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
This removal option is used when the stone is larger or in a location that does not allow the use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. According to National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the surgeon will make a small cut in your back. Using an instrument, the surgeon will locate and remove the stone. Sometimes a probe will be used to break the larger stone into smaller pieces. You may require several days in the hospital to recover from the procedure. Using this procedure, the surgeon can remove stone fragments instead of relying on urine to help pass the stones from the body.
Uteroscopic Procedure
When the stone is lodged in the ureter or the kidney, the surgeon will use ureteroscopic procedure. This procedure is done under anesthesia by going up the urethra, through the bladder and into the ureter. According to Mayo Clinic physicians, the surgeon attempts to snag the stone using instruments or shatter them using lasers. Sometimes a small stent or tube is placed in the ureter to help reduce swelling and promote healing.
Open Surgical Removal
St. John Providence Health System advocates the use of an open incisional procedure either before, after or instead of minimally invasive procedures. The hospital physicians recommend this approach when the kidney stones are very large or the location of the stones makes this the best option for complete removal. When these larger stones cannot be removed using other means, doctors open the kidney in surgery and remove the stone. A drain carries urine away from the open wound in the kidney until it heals.
About this Author
Gail Morris has been writing extensively since 1997. She completed a master’s in nursing at IUPUI and practiced in medicine for more than 20 years. Morris has published medical articles in peer-reviewed journals and now writes at Demand Studios and freelances for Internet Marketers.
