Kidney Stones

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and type of stone, the underlying cause, the presence of urinary infection and whether the condition recurs. The kidney stone patients should drink plenty of fluids, especially water to increase their urinary output. Most kidney stones can pass through the urinary system without intervention. These stones are collected using a urine strainer to analyze the chemical composition for the prevention of recurrent stone formation. If a stones does not move through the ureter, urologists use several procedures to break up, remove or bypass kidney stones.

Ureteroscopy - It is a procedure used to remove or break up (fragment) stones located in the middle and lower ureter. A fiberoptic instrument resembling a long, thin telescope (ureteroscope) is inserted into the urethra through the bladder. Once the stone is located, the urologist either removes it with a small basket inserted through the ureteroscope (called basket extraction) or breaks the stone with a laser or similar device. The fragments are then passed by the patient.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) - This method uses high frequency shock waves projected from outside the body to break kidney stones anywhere in the urinary system. These waves break the stone into sand-like granules that can be passed through the urinary system. Large stones may require several ESWL treatments.
Side Effects of ESWL include blood in the urine, bruising on the back or abdomen, bleeding around the kidney and other adjacent organs and discomfort as the stone fragments pass through the urinary tract.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy - This surgical method of removing kidney stones is performed when the stone is very large. The surgeon will remove the stone through a small incision in the patient's back using an instrument called a nephroscope.

After treatment : 

The patient may be asked to make lifestyle modifications such as increased fluid intake and changes in diet. They should try to drink about 14 cups of water every day. Decreasing the amount of meat, legumes, and fish as well may help prevent stone formation. Eat only a moderate amount of foods containing oxalates which include berries, green beans, beets, spinach, squash, tomatoes, nuts, chocolate and tea. Medication may be prescribed depending on the kind of stone you have. It can control the level of acidity or alkalinity in the urine.