Kidney Stone

What Treatment Options Are Available for Treating Urinary Stones?

Kidney stones that do not pass on their own and cause symptoms are treated either with shock wave therapy or a surgical procedure. In shock wave therapy, the kidney stones are shattered into small pieces using sound waves, which are then excreted with the urine. This treatment is also known as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). A sound probe is placed on the skin, and the sound waves work through the skin, so no incision is necessary as with surgery. For uncomplicated kidney stones, shock wave therapy takes about 30 to 60 minutes and can often be performed on an outpatient basis. The success of the treatment is checked with an ultrasound examination or an X-ray. Small kidney stones often pass on their own and do not require an intervention as long as they do not cause severe discomfort or complications. Larger kidney stones often need to be surgically removed. Depending on the location and size, they are shattered or removed endoscopically.

To remove kidney or ureteral stones, fine instruments are guided up to the stone using an endoscope through the urethra and bladder. There, the stone is fragmented mechanically or with a laser so that the fragments can be excreted or removed endoscopically. The technical term for this endoscopic treatment is ureterorenoscopy (URS). Less frequently, kidney stones need to be removed directly from the renal pelvis. For this, the endoscope is inserted through a small hole in the back into the renal pelvis or the cavities of the kidney. The stones are then also fragmented mechanically or with a laser and removed with a small forceps. This endoscopic operation is called percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL). It requires general anaesthesia and a hospital stay.

Measures to Prevent Urinary Stones

If no adequate follow-up care is performed after the first occurrence of urinary stones, the risk of recurrence is about 60 percent. Due to this high risk alone, regular follow-up appointments with a urology specialist and individually tailored measures are recommended. After analysing the composition of the removed or passed urinary stones, an individual dietary adjustment is often necessary. With the help of the stone analysis, identification of existing risk factors, and appropriate follow-up care, the likelihood of new stone formation can be significantly reduced.

Generally accepted measures to prevent stone formation include sufficient fluid intake (guideline: about two and a half litters of mineral water or fruit teas daily), a balanced, fibber-rich diet, and adequate physical activity.

What Are Urinary Stones?

A stone is a hard, solid mass that can form in the bladder, ureter, and kidneys. These types of stones have various underlying causes, and the treatment methods also differ. Kidney stones form when minerals or acid salts in your urine crystallize. Most of these stones leave your body when you urinate. However, in some cases, treatment may be needed to remove the stones.

Kidney Pain or Renal Colic Can Be a Sign of Stone Disease!

If the stones remain small, they cause no pain and are often excreted unnoticed. However, if the stones grow larger and cannot pass through the urinary tract but get stuck in the ureter, bladder, or urethra, they can cause extremely painful renal colic. Regular kidney ultrasounds can help prevent this.