Goodbye to Stones-Latest Surgeries for Kidney Stone Removal

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Latest Surgeries for Kidney Stone Removal

Kidney stone removal surgery, also known as nephrolithiasis surgery or renal calculi surgery, is done to remove solid crystals or masses formed in the kidneys. They are made up of substances such as minerals, salts, and acids. 

Kidney stones vary in size and can be as small as the size of a grain of sand or larger than the size of a golf ball. 

Most of the small-sized kidney stones pass on their own without the need for any treatment. However, some large kidney stones that are painful or get stuck in the urinary tract may need surgery to remove them.

In this article, we will be discussing the latest surgical procedures that are performed to treat kidney stones and ways to prevent the development of kidney stones in the first place.

• Who is a good candidate for kidney stone removal surgery?
• How to prepare for a nephrolithiasis surgery?
• What are the different types of nephrolithiasis surgery surgeries?
• How is the recovery after a kidney stone removal surgery?
• What are the complications of nephrolithiasis surgery?
• How to prevent kidney stones?

Who is a good candidate for nephrolithiasis surgery ?

Small kidney stones with minimal or no symptoms will not require invasive surgical treatment. They can usually pass on their own by drinking a lot of water and with the help of certain medications prescribed by the doctor to help pass the kidney stone. ( Know more about- What are kidney stones ? )

However, some kidney stones require kidney stone removal surgery. 

A kidney stone removal surgery is generally recommended in the following cases:

• Kidney is too large 

• Kidney stone gets stuck in the ureter or fails to pass due to another reason

• Severe pain due to kidney stone

• Kidney stone affects kidney function

• Kidney stone causing infection

How to prepare for a nephrolithiasis surgery?

The doctor will give a few instructions to the patient on how to prepare for a kidney stone removal surgery, which may include the following:

• Quit smoking at least a few days before the surgery.
• Stop taking blood thinners a few days before and after the surgery.
• Avoid eating or drinking anything for eight to twelve hours before the surgery.
• Inform your surgeon about any medical illnesses that you have.
• If you are taking any supplements or medicines, let your surgeon know about it.
• Arrange for someone to take you home after the surgery.

The surgeon may also choose to place a stent in the ureter, which is a tube between the bladder and the kidney, a few weeks before the surgery. This internal stent allows the ureter to enlarge or dilate to make the removal of kidney stones easier. The stent also helps in relieving the acute pain due to kidney stones, drainage of any infection, and helps in providing antibiotic treatment before a kidney stone removal surgery.

What are the different types of nephrolithiasis surgeries?

The type of surgery recommended for a kidney stone removal procedure will depend on many factors, like the type, size, and location of kidney stones present. 

The different types of procedures and surgeries recommended to remove a kidney stone are:

• Shockwave lithotripsy: This procedure involves the use of shockwaves to break the stones into fragments from outside the body. The fragments can then easily move through the urinary tract and out of the body.
• Ureteroscopy: The doctor inserts a scope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter in this procedure. Some instruments are passed through the scope to help break up and remove the kidney stone. The smaller pieces of the kidney stone can move through the urinary tract and out of the body easily after this procedure.
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: This procedure is recommended by the doctor only if the kidney stone cannot be removed using other treatment methods. This procedure involves the insertion of a tube directly into the kidney through a small cut or incision made by the doctor in the back region. An ultrasound probe is then used to break and remove the kidney stone.
• Laparoscopic surgery: This procedure involves making a small incision to remove the kidney stone with the help of a tube with a camera on one end, known as a laparoscope. In a few rare cases, the doctor may even perform an open surgery using a larger incision to remove the stone instead of a laparoscopic surgery. ( Know more about- What is Kidney Transplant ? )

How is the recovery after a kidney stone removal surgery?

It is common to experience the following symptoms after a kidney stone removal surgery:

• Bruising and soreness 
• Blood in urine ( Know more about- What is Blood Urine ? )
• Discomfort 
• Pain
• Nausea

A prescription medicine like tamsulosin may be recommended after the surgery to help in relaxing and opening the ureter for some time after the surgery. This medicine can help the stones and the stone fragments to pass easily. A strainer may be recommended to collect the stone pieces that are passed in the urine so that they can be later tested.

If a temporary stent is placed in the ureter during the surgery, it will be removed approximately two to ten days after the surgery.

The recovery time following a kidney stone removal surgery will vary depending on the type of surgery you undergo, the size and position of the kidney stone removed, and your overall health. 

Most patients can resume their normal daily activities two to three days after an external shock wave lithotripsy procedure, laser lithotripsy, or ureteroscopy. It may take one or two weeks for a patient who has undergone percutaneous nephrolithotomy to resume his or her daily activities. In cases of patients having a temporary stent placed after the surgery, some daily activities could be limited till the stent is removed.

What are the complications of nephrolithiasis surgery?

The complications associated with a kidney stone removal surgery will vary depending on the size and position of your kidney stones, and the type of surgery you are undergoing. 

Some common complications that may be associated with a kidney stone removal surgery are:

• Sepsis (a type of infection that spreads through the blood) ( Know more about- What are Staph infections ? )
• Ureter injury
• Blocked ureter due to kidney stone fragments
• Pain
• Bleeding
• UTI (urinary tract infection)
• Failure to remove all the stone fragments
• Injury to a nearby healthy organ

How to prevent kidney stones?

Kidney stone development can be prevented in the following different ways:

• Drink lots of water.
• Limit your intake of animal proteins.
• Limit food items that are high in sodium or sugar content.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid food items high in oxalates, such as spinach, wheat bran, rhubarb, peanuts, and tree nuts.
• Eat food that is rich in calcium.
• Avoid antacids with calcium or calcium supplements.
• Certain prescription medications may help in preventing kidney stones.

We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding the prevention and latest surgeries for kidney stone removal through this article.

If you want more information about kidney stones, you can contact a good Nephrologist.

We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend any medication or treatment in any way. Only a qualified doctor can give you the best advice.