If you have kidney stones, you have a lot of company. Nearly 10 percent of the population suffers with this condition. Kidney stones are mostly created from calcium, but they can also develop from uric acid or from struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) crystals related to bacterial infections in the urinary tract. Kidney stones do not cure themselves and when left untreated, they can be very painful and even contribute to kidney damage.
Surgical treatments are available for those who are not able to rid themselves of the stones, either due to an accumulation of small stones or due to the development of one or more larger stone. A consultation with your Victorville General Surgeon will explore …show more content…
The surgeon inserts a thin scope into the urethra, then through the bladder and ureter, to reach the stone’s location. If the stone is lodged in the ureter, the surgeon pushes it back into the kidney where it’s shattered by a laser lithotripsy. This allows the dust like particles to pass out of the kidney with normal urine elimination. The patient is given general anesthesia, has minimal discomfort, and goes home after a few hours.
3. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
PCNL is safe and effective, performed in a hospital, and generally requires an overnight stay. The procedure targets non-passable large stones or a collection of smaller stones concentrated in one kidney. The patient is given general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small incision in the back that allows direct access to the kidney’s drainage system. Specialized surgical equipment is used to shatter the stones. The smaller pieces are vacuumed or picked out of the kidney. A temporary tube or stent is left in place while the kidney drains and it’s easily removed later in the surgeon’s