Stones that are impairing kidney function may also require surgical removal.
Surgical removal of the stone relieves symptoms and/or restores the normal flow of urine.
What Exactly Are Kidney Stones?
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Kidney stones are pebble-like masses that become stuck in thekidneyorureter.
These substances form tiny crystals and, eventually, these solid stones.
What Is Kidney Stone Surgery?
There are different types of kidney stone surgeries.
This surgery entails using high-energy shock waves to break apart a kidney stone into tiny, fine fragments.
Doing so allows the pieces to easily travel through the urinary tract and out of the body.
Patients can often go home the same day as the procedure.
They may stay one night in the hospital if the surgery was long or complicated.
The stone is removed whole or, if it’s too large, broken up with a laser first.
A laser may be used to break the stone into pieces prior to removal.
Patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy stay in the hospital for one to two nights.
Laparoscopic and Robot-Assisted Surgery
Laparoscopicand robot-assisted surgery is more invasive than the surgeries described thus far.
It is usually utilized when one of them fails.
If a robot is used, the practitioner controls robotic hands that have surgical instruments attached to them instead.
This surgery involves around a three-night stay in the hospital.
Open Surgery
Open surgery is rarely performed.
During open surgery, the stone is removed through a cut made in the patient’s abdomen or side.
A nephrostomy tube is placed temporarily to drain urine.
Open surgery generally requires a six- to nine-night hospital stay.
The exceptions relate to shock wave lithotripsy.
Lab tests include:
If an infection is detected, it will be treated with antibiotics.
Finally, additional studies may be needed for anesthesia clearance, like anelectrocardiogram (ECG).
Leave all valuables, including jewelry, at home.
Food and Drink
Avoid eating or drinking after midnight on the eve of your surgery.
Pre-Op Lifestyles Changes
Stop smoking prior to surgery to lower your risk for surgical complications.
The longer you stop smoking, the greater the benefits.
Your surgeon will come to greet you and briefly review the operation.
The steps of kidney stone surgery depend on the surgical technique/approach being used.
Once you are fully awake and alert, you will be discharged home.
If you are staying in the hospital, you will be wheeled to a hospital room.
This helps facilitate thepassing of the stone fragmentsout of the body in your urine.
You will likely be asked to strain your urine through a filter to capture the stone fragments.
Save any you find and bring them to your healthcare provider.
The fragments will be sent off to a pathology lab for chemical analysis.
Recovery from the other procedures takes longer.
This is done to ensure that you are completely stone-free and that all stone fragments have been removed.
Future surgical procedures may be warranted if stone fragments are left behind or if a stone forms again.
Choose the surgery that is going to be the most effective and comfortable for you.
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O’Leary MP, Lam AQ eds.
Waltham, MA: UpToDate.
University of Michigan Health.Open surgery for kidney stones.
National Kidney Foundation.Kidney stone treatment: shock wave lithotripsy.
2011 Jan;25(1):11-7. doi:10.1089/end.2010.0424
University of Utah.What to expect at your kidney stone surgery.
Harvard Medical School.How to prevent kidney stones.
