Kidney stones are hard deposits that are made up of minerals like calcium or waste products such as uric acid. They are mostly small but can grow more prominent as more minerals stick to them. While some kidney stones pass on their own without requiring any treatment, other bigger stones are generally painful and get stuck in the urinary tract, leading to a need to remove the stone with the help of surgery.
In this blog, Dr. Niren Rao, a leading Kidney Stone Specialist in Delhi, discusses the best and most effective kidney stone treatments for removing stones. Read on for more insights.
- PCNL
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is the most common kidney stone treatment, which is minimally invasive. It is used to remove stones that are larger than 2 cm and can be done under spinal or general anesthesia. During this procedure, the expert urologist makes a small incision less than 1 cm on the back, through which, using serial dilators, a tract is established into the kidney, leading to the stone. The stones are fragmented into small particles by placing a DJ stent into the kidney.
- MINI PCNL
This technique eliminates small stones (7-8 mm) using probes and lasers. The post-surgery recovery is early, and patients can resume regular activities in less time.
- RIRS (Retrograde Intra-Renal Surgery)
In this procedure, the urologist uses a ureteroscope through the urinary passage and the bladder directly into the kidney. The kidney stones are broken into fragments using a holmium laser. No cut is given in this procedure, and the bleeding is minimal.
- URS (Uretero-renoscopy)
Stones that are stuck in the ureter are removed using a ureteroscope. The ureteroscope is passed through the urinary passage, and once it reaches the stone, it is broken into small particles using a holmium laser or a pneumatic lithoclast. In the end, a stent is placed inside the ureter, which acts like a safety device, and is removed through the urinary passage in a week.
If one has kidney stones or experiences symptoms such as flank pain, blood in urine, pain while urinating, nausea, or fever, one can consult Dr. Niren Rao, the best Urology Doctor in Delhi, at Dr. Niren Rao’s Urology Practice to get rid of kidney stones. The expert doctor will do a thorough evaluation and advise a few tests to examine the stone's size, number, and location. For more information about kidney stone treatments, visit Dr. Niren Rao’s Urology Practice today!