Kidney stones can become a serious health problem if they do not pass through the ureter after a span of 30 days after being formed. If they remain, then one should immediately consult a doctor and go for treatment. There are various procedures which have come out to remove kidney stones such as:
·
Ureteroscopy
This method is
used to break or basket the kidney stones
that are formed in the ureter. A state-of-the-art
telescope, which is as thin as a wire, is passed into the urethra till it
reaches the ureter where the stone is formed. The telescope a.k.a the
ureteroscope has a minute basket attached to it which is used to extract the
stones.This method has been largely replaced by use of laser fragmentation .The
broken fragments pass out from the urinary tract. General anesthesia is
required in this process.
·
Lithotripsy
This is the best
method for treatment of kidney stones. There are two ways in which this can be conducted. First is Intra corporeal Ultrasonic
lithotripsy which uses sound waves which have a large frequency. This is
administered with the help of an electronic device which is inserted into the ureter. After the stones break up into minute particles, they are passed
out by through the urinary tract.
.
Second is
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy/ESWL which uses high impulse beams from
outside to break the kidney stones where it is located. The fragments are
passed out by the patient through urine. Mostly a stent is used to facilitate
the process also called a J stent.
·
Open
surgery
This process is nowadays minimally used as keyhole procedures are possible with the advent of an
endoscope. Open surgery these days is largely reserved for very large stones
more than 40 mm or multiple large stones they will administer general
anesthesia first. Then the doctors will make a cut in the back. After this, the doctors will remove the kidney stones
by incision. The patient needs to stay in the hospital for some time until he/she
has fully recovered. Sometimes it takes weeks.
·
Percutaneous
Nephrostolithotomy/PCN
This is a
minimally invasive technique wherein a hole approx. 10 mm is sufficient to
perform the stone removal as laser is passed through it to fragment it. The
patient has to be hospitalized. Local anesthesia is to be administered. To gain
access of the kidney, a needle is attached to a guide wire threaded with
catheters. Then the surgeon with the help of instruments controls the catheters
to break the kidney stones and remove them. After this process, the person
needs to rest completely for at least a week.
Mini PCNL
The technique is the same as above but by proper case selection a thinner endoscope is managed for a faster healing and recovery .In most cases the healing just takes few days and patient is fit before a week.
Mini PCNL
The technique is the same as above but by proper case selection a thinner endoscope is managed for a faster healing and recovery .In most cases the healing just takes few days and patient is fit before a week.
