Removal of kidney stones: basic methods

Kidney stones do not pose an immediate danger to life, but are one of the most unpleasant diseases a person can experience. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common disease. However, there are several ways to treat, providing removal of stones from the kidneys and forcing them to exit quickly and easily.

Some of the substances contained in the urine can form crystals that settle in the kidneys and ureters. Gradually they accumulate and form stones, which then bring numerous troubles to man.

Removal of kidney stones: conservative treatment

One way is to cleanse the kidneys. The use of a large amount of water (from 2 to 3 liters per day) contributes to the formation of a sufficient volume of urine, capable of pushing the stone through the urinary tract and withdraw from the body. At the same time, pain killers can be taken to make the process somewhat less painful. Physical activity together with the intake of large amounts of water will also help to remove the stone, although pain can erase all efforts.

Lithotripsy

Crushing stones in the kidneys by ultrasound (lithotripsy) is the most common procedure for removing stones that are too large to leave the body on their own. It does not require surgical intervention: instead, a special device sends ultrasonic waves into the abdominal cavity, where they break the kidney stones into small enough pieces that can go out with urine. However, this method also has side effects - such as abdominal pain and blood in the urine. Lithotripsy is performed on an outpatient basis. Often more than one session is required to achieve a positive effect and removal of stones from the kidneys was successful.

Urethroscopic removal of stones

Sometimes kidney stones become stuck in the ureter. In this case, urethroscopic removal of stones from the kidneys is necessary. The process does not require surgical intervention. Instead, the doctor removes the stones with the urethroscope through the urethra.

Fortunately, most stones can be treated without surgery, which can be recommended if the stones are too large, cause permanent pain and block the flow of urine, and damage kidney tissue. In addition, the operation is usually indicated in cases when treatment by other methods is impossible.

Nephrolithotomy

If the kidney stones are too large or the sound waves can not reach them, the surgeon can perform nephrolithotomy to remove the stone. The surgeon makes a small incision on the back and, using a tool called a nephroscope, enters the kidneys and takes out a stone. Before the operation, it may be necessary to perform crushing of the stones with ultrasound. After the nephrolithotomy, patients should remain in the hospital for several days, but the procedure has one advantage: the patient does not experience pain, because everything happens under anesthesia.

Pyelolithotomy

The operation involves opening the affected area and removing the stone (stones). It is carried out under general anesthesia. The incision is made parallel to the costal arch. The doctor removes the stone with forceps, after which the kidney or ureter is sutured with bioresorbable material.