There
are several types of kidney stone treatments which are fortunately
all minimally invasive. The decision of which procedure is best
depends on many factors including the size and location of the
stone, patient anatomy and preference. There are advantages and
disadvantages of each of the procedures which are described below.
Shock
Wave Lithotripsy (SWL, “sound wave procedure”) is a common procedure for stones in the kidney and ureter. Its
main advantage is that a stone in the body is treated from an
external source during a brief procedure under sedation. Sound
waves are precisely focused to pulverize the stone using computerized
equipment and X-rays. Recuperation is quick, with many patients
returning to normal activity the next day. Its effectiveness
varies from 90% in patients with single small stones, to 60%
in patients with large or complex stones. A disadvantage is that
the stone fragments (generally small) must still pass through
the normal urinary passages.
Ureteroscopy involves the passage
of a tiny scope into the urine passage which allows direct visualization
of ureteral or renal stones. The stone is either extracted with
a tiny instrument or fragmented with a laser almost as thin as
human hair. This outpatient procedure has higher effectiveness
(approx. 98%) than SWL and still allows return to normal activities
in a day or two. After the procedure, it is not uncommon to have
burning or blood on urination. Some patients require a temporary
stent after this procedure to help ensure proper healing and
urine flow from the kidney.
Percutaneous Stone Extraction is a
very useful procedure for patients with large or multiple kidney
stones. This procedure utilizes a scope about the diameter of
a pen which is passed through a small incision in the back directly
into the kidney. Stones are visualized and fragmented before
removing them directly through the scope. Patients most often
stay overnight in the hospital but do not need to pass fragments
after the procedure. Most patients can return to normal non-strenuous
activity in a few days.
Our physicians are very experienced with
each of these procedures and can provide you with a detailed
discussion of your options.
