Kidney Stones Removal Procedures - Your 4 Treatment Options

Normally, doctors will talk about a number of medical measures often practiced for removing kidney stones especially to patients with severe cases. Each method differs a bit from the other, and a few can be performed at home. Healthcare providers, however, will recommend the suitable kidney stones removal procedures for the patients depending on the severity of their illness.

Before, open surgery for removing kidney stones is very common. However, there are several new methods that have been developed over the last decades that do not necessarily require surgery. Some of the kidney stones removal procedures widely used nowadays are given below:

1. Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy procedure is done using a device specially made for this purpose. This device creates shockwaves without the aid of electricity. Shockwaves can enter the body through the body tissues and skin until such time that it will hit the kidney stone. The kidney stones are then broken into smaller pieces or sand-like appearance and will be eliminated out of the body the natural way, together with the urine. Patients can do their tasks normally right after the treatment because this method doesn’t need a lot of time for recovery.

2. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is also referred to as the tunnel surgery. This method is used when the stones are too large and can’t be cleared out through ESWL. In this procedure, the surgeon will make an opening that will lead to the kidney at the back area of the patient. The nephroscope, a tube like instrument, will then be inserted in the opening to locate the kidney stone and will remove it out of the body. With this procedure, the patient is required to stay in the hospital for days to be observed. The good thing in using this procedure is that the kidney stones are eradicated out of the body physically and not just depend on the natural way.

3. Ureteroscopic Stone Removal

Ureteroscopic Stone Removal procedure is used when the stone is obstructed in the ureter. Ureteroscope, a tool specifically made for this function, is placed in the urether all the way through the bladder going to the ureter. The surgeon will then locate the stone and will mash it into smaller pieces using a particular kind of device that creates shockwaves or by using a cage like instrument to remove the stone. A tiny tube is left in the ureter for several days right after the healing process in order to help mend the lining of the ureter. This requires the use of an anesthesia to clear out stones formed in the lower and middle ureter.

4. Open (Incisional) Surgery

Open surgery, as its name suggests, is done inside an operating room after anesthesia is given to the patient. This method requires the opening of the affected part. The surgeon makes an opening or incision in the skin of the patient and unlocks the kidney’s pelvis so that the kidney stone will be removed by hand. The healing process of this kidney stone removal procedure will take four to six weeks for it involves a major operation.