Kidney Stones Surgery: Purpose, Procedure, Benefits and Side Effects
Last Updated: Jun 30, 2023
What is Kidney Stones Surgery?
Kidney stones are dense deposits consisting of waste materials like uric acid or minerals like calcium. They begin small, but as additional minerals adhere to them, they may enlarge. Many kidney stones dissolve by themselves without needing medical intervention.
Other retained stones inside the kidney or renal region need to be surgically treated to evade pain. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a treatment where a kidney stone is resected using little telescopes and tools placed through a tiny cut in your back.
During the surgery, the patient is given general anesthesia, they also need to stay in the hospital for one to 2 days until they recuperate.
A little telescope known as ureteroscope is inserted into the urethra and bladder and up the ureter to the place where the stone is placed during ureteroscopy, a treatment used to treat kidney stones.
The surgery typically takes one to three hours to complete and is typically done while the patient is under local anesthetic.
Smaller stones can often be caught with a basket device and taken out of the ureter whole. The stone will have to be broken up, which is typically done using a laser, if it is big or if the ureter's size is small. These fragments are taken out after the stone has been split into small bits.
Types of Kidney Stones Surgery
Ureteroscopy
To remove renal stones, four types of operations are done The first three are non - intrusive, which means the surgeon penetrates your body by a small cut or via the natural opening ( urethral opening).
A ureteroscope is put inside the bladder, ureter and the urethra to conduct ureteroscopy. The kidney stones are seen on this equipment, which either removes them in a clinical 'bucket' or utilizes a laser to break them up.
The tiny kidney stone particles can then easily flow through the urinary system and leave the body. Wave-induced lithotripsy For shockwave lithotripsy, you are positioned on a specific kind of operating table or bathtub. Strong shock waves that pass through water are applied to the stones. The shockwaves shatter the stones, making it simpler for them to exit the body.
Shockwave Lithotripsy
You are positioned on a certain kind of operating table or tub for shockwave lithotripsy. The stones are subjected to powerful shock waves that travel through water. The stones are split apart by the shockwaves, which makes it easier for them to leave your body.
Percutaneous kidney stone removal
When current treatments for kidney stones are unsuccessful because of the presence of an excessive number of stones, the thickness or heaviness of the stones, or the positioning of the stones, percutaneous nephrolithotomy is carried out.
Through a little cut in the back, a pipe is directly placed into the kidney during this treatment. The stones are then broken up with an ultrasonic probe and vacuumed out so that no parts have to be released. After that, an internal tube, called the urethral stent, is inserted.
Open stone surgery
Open stone surgery involves making a long cut. It is infrequently used in comparison to non intrusive surgeries
Advantages of Kidney Stones removal
The optical vision used during the procedure is quite useful in locating the stones. The process is quick and doesn't take very long. The procedure's laser is safe to use. enhances the standard of living.
Reduced pain and discomfort
Surgery-related trauma, discomfort, and pain are eliminated
Issues following the treatment are significantly reduced
Recovery time following lithotripsy is normally just few days as opposed to the typical 3–6 weeks
Better functioning of the kidney
Why is Kidney Stone Surgery Done?
Kidney stone may cause great discomfort and pain to a person, It may cause serious infections in the urinary tract, therefore they need to be operated on.
Consult the doctor as promptly as you can if you suspect a kidney stone. If a stone is discovered, your doctor can advise you on the best course of action, including whether you should take medicine, have surgery, or try to dissolve the kidney stone naturally.
Your surgeon may occasionally advise quick complete resection without a waiting time. This generally occurs when a stone that is larger than 6 mm and too big to release naturally is obstructing flow of urine.
An infection or injury to the kidneys may result from the stone obstructing the reabsorption of water.
What are the risks of Kidney Stones Surgery?
The larger fragments from partial stone breakup may cause discomfort or irritation when urinating and may require additional treatment. Persistent pain mostly in the area of the ureter or urinary system may be a symptom of a disease that requires medical attention.
An infection may also be indicated by a fever or shivering. Stone pieces that are stuck in the urinary tract could interfere with urination in any location.
However if you choose Pristyn Care, these risks will get negated as our professional and deft surgeons carry out numerous surgeries with utmost perfection and ensure the safety and security of their patients.
How to prepare for Kidney Stone Surgery?
If you are a smoker, give up long before your surgery
Stop using drugs like Coumadin, Plavix, Xarelto, and similar blood thinners that can make it difficult for the clotting of the blood
Don't have meals or drinks a night before you go for the operation
After your operation, make sure you have a ride home
Prior to your operation, doctors might also put a stent in your ureter. This entirely internal stent facilitates ureter dilatation or enlargement and facilitates stone removal. Additionally, stents may help a stone's intense pain, help any infection to drain, and enable for antibiotic treatment prior to surgery.
How Kidney Stones Surgery is done
Before the surgery
You will be transported to a pre-operative room to change into a hospital gown after taking off your clothes. An intravenous (IV) line will then be inserted into a vein in your arm by the nurse after reviewing your list of medications and taking your vital signs.
Doctors also give antibiotics by the IV or orally, which largely depends upon the type of operation one is going for. Based on a particular surgical operation being conducted, renal stone surgery may be carried out under general or regional anesthesia.
The surgeon will provide a numbing substance through spinal injection while under regional anesthesia. As the drug is injected, you can experience a sharp pain. Additionally, a tranquilizer will likely be provided to you so that you may relax during the procedure.
The anesthesiologist will give you general anesthesia by giving you an intravenous or inhaled anesthetic. An endotracheal tube is then placed after the patient has fallen asleep. This tube is attached to the ventilator, which will aid in your ability to breathe throughout the procedure.
Let's review the fundamental steps of the ureteroscopy surgical technique since it is frequently used to remove kidney stones, particularly those that have not been successfully treated with shock wave lithotripsy:
Visualize the surgeon inserting a ureteroscope into the bladder and urethra before passing it up to the ureter and kidney. Depending on where the stone is exactly, balloon dilators may be utilized to enlarge the ureter.
Forceps or the metal basket tool will be used to extract the stone in one piece if it is tiny enough. In the event that the stone is too big, it will be laser-fractured into bits and permitted to naturally transit through the urine.
During the Surgery
Any stone-related material is sent to a lab to have its composition examined. If the ureter is swollen from the surgery, a stent may occasionally be inserted in it. The surgeon can ensure that urine flows effectively and that stone fragments exit without difficulty if necessary by managing the ureter's opening using this little tube.
After the Surgery
A nurse will keep an eye on your vitals while you're in the recovery area. You will be sent home after you are conscious and feeling fine.
You will be taken to the hospital room if you are staying there.
What is the Cost of Kidney Stone Surgery?
the In India, price of a kidney stone operation typically ranges from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1,20,000. The cost of treatment, however, can vary based on a number of variables, including the type of city, the technique used to remove kidney stones, the patient's general health, the surgeon's experience, the severity of the illness, etc.
Depending on how the kidney stones are removed, processes have different costs.
The majority of patients can resume their daily routines 1–2 days after the surgery. In the days and weeks following therapy, consume plenty of water. Any remaining stones are made easier to pass by doing this.
In order to help you pass the stones more easily, your doctor may prescribe an alpha blocker medication.
What to eat after Kidney Stone Surgery?
Remain hydrated. Water in particular helps to dissolve the compounds that create stones. Therefore, patients should attempt to consume 12 glasses or more of water each day. Increase your consumption of citrus fruits.
Due to the naturally existing citrate, citrus fruits and their juices can aid in reducing or preventing stone formation. Lemons, oranges, and grapefruit are among the fruits that are good for patients who have kidney stones.
Include a lot of calcium and vitamin D in the diet every day. Your oxalate rates may rise if your calcium levels have dropped. It's preferable to include your daily intake of calcium through foods instead of supplements because the production of kidney stones may be influenced by the process of consuming calcium in the supplement form.
Calcium can be found in dairy products such as milk, curd, and other cheeses. Vegetarians can also obtain plenty of calcium through foods like lentils, tofu that is high in calcium, seeds, nuts, green vegetables, etc.
Is Kidney Stone Surgery safe?
SWL is a reliable and safe renal stone treatment. However, complications can arise during any surgical treatment. Major issues like bleeding and excruciating pain are really uncommon.When the stone chunks pass, you might experience pain and sickness.
This may occur shortly after surgery and last for one to two months. If sound waves were used to cure the stone, you might experience some soreness where they were applied to your side or your back. Additionally, the treatment region itself could hurt a little.
Is Kidney Stone Surgery Painful?
The individual may not be able to release all the stone particles for a couple of weeks, and it is common for patients to notice blood in their urine during the initial days following the treatment. Back and shoulder pain are other common places to feel discomfort, however painkillers can lessen the magnitude of pain being experienced.
How long does it take to recover from Kidney Stone Surgery?
Based on your individual circumstances and the sort of procedure you had, recovering from kidney stone surgery can vary. You should be able to return to your regular activities as per the procedure.
The external shock wave lithotripsy operation or ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy takes two to three days to heal a person. Following a percutaneous nephrolithotomy, one to two weeks might be enough
But, if you've got a temporary stent in position following your operation, some of these activities can be restricted because of pain.
What are the side effects of Kidney Stone Surgery?
- As kidney stone pieces exit your body through your urine tract, pain and nausea are frequent side effects. To alleviate these symptoms, your doctor may advise you to use painkillers and antiemetic drugs.
- If there is any minor soreness at the incision sites. Find out from your doctor how to take the best possible care of these areas, including when you can safely take a shower.
- Urination that hurts (dysuria) with blood in the pee After ureteroscopy and ureteral stent installation, this might happen. The majority of stents are taken out 7 to 14 days following surgery, but make sure to discuss the exact time with your doctor.
- A nephrostomy tube may cause soreness at the site of insertion. If this happens, make sure to follow your healthcare provider's advice to keep the skin surrounding the tube clean and dry.
Kidney Stone Surgery Aftercare
Additionally, the doctor will come up with a strategy for you to aid in preventing future stones from growing premised on the chemical characterization of the stone. There are three essential methods for avoiding stones:
- Eight glasses of water should be consumed daily to keep your urinary system clean
- Start off slowly and increase your daily water intake if you are not used to drinking that much water
- Depending on the kind of stone you had, your doctor may advise taking specific drugs (e.g. a thiazide diuretic or potassium citrate)
- Based on the kind of stone that you had, you may want to change your diet: For instance, you can be instructed to consume less animal protein and meals and beverages with added sugar. Additionally, you could be told to eat more fruits and vegetables
Conclusion
Although kidney stones can be quite unpleasant, they frequently go away on their own. Talk to your doctor as immediately as you suspect you have a kidney stone so they can advise you on the best way to proceed.
Generally speaking, a stone will take longer to pass on its own the bigger it is. You might be able to wait it out, or your doctor could advise getting help. A kidney stone increases your risk of developing further kidney stones in the future.
Drink enough water to maintain your urine clear or light yellow, and eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in salt to lower your risk of producing more stones. At Pristyn Care, we make sure that you experience a safe and reliable medical service which cures your ailments and promotes your well being.
Our experienced doctors are here to help you out if you are in quest of a safe surgery option. Don't waste your time and reach out to us today for a dependable and trustworthy diagnosis. We will be more than pleased to help you out.
Table of content
15+ Years of Surgical Experience
All Insurances Accepted
EMI Facility Available at 0% Rate
Find Urologist near me
Ask a free question
Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors