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If a kidney stone does not pass on its own, it must be removed mechanically to avoid kidney damage.
A kidney stone may need to be removed if it:
- Doesn't pass after a reasonable period of time
- Is too large to pass on its own
- Blocks the flow of urine
- Causes ongoing urinary tract infection or bleeding
- Is damaging the kidney or ureter
Kidney stones are usually not life-threatening, but they do increase the chance of urinary and kidney infection. In rare cases a urinary infection can lead to septicaemia (when germs spread into the bloodstream). Stones that block urine flow can reduce kidney function and even cause permanent kidney damage.
If a stone needs to be removed, the urologist has several choices depending on circumstances.
| If the stone... |
The urologist will most likely: |
| Is near the bladder |
Insert a scope into the bladder and through the ureter to retrieve it (called Ureteroscopy) |
| Is near the kidney |
Use shock waves to break the stones into smaller fragments that can then be passed (called Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy) |
| Can't be removed with either of the two methods above |
Make a small incision in the back to insert a scope into the kidney (called Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy) |
Ureteroscopy
The surgeon inserts a small, flexible, telescope-like instrument into the urethra, through the bladder and into the ureter to remove the stone. An advanced form of ureteroscopy uses a laser to vaporize the stone.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
This is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. A machine called a lithotripter creates sonic shock waves that travel through the body until they hit the stones and break them into small particles so they can be easily passed. Sometimes a stent (a small tube) is inserted through the bladder into the ureter to help the fragments pass.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
This technique can be used if the stone is too large or located in an area not suitable for lithotripsy. It involves making a tiny cut in the back, then using a nephroscope (a small instrument used in minimally invasive surgery) to locate and remove the stone
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