Kidney stones are the aggregation of chemical substances dissolved in urine. When the concentration level of these substances reaches a particular point, they crystallize into a permanent form and form stones.

The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. Kidney stones vary in size; sometimes, these are too small to be felt or noticed in the urinary tract. Otherwise, these can as large as a golf ball.

When the stone obstructs the urine flow, the ureter dilates and stretches causing muscle spasms giving rise to immense gripping pain (renal colic); felt in flank, lower abdomen, groin, or leg of affected side Kidney Stones Types. It is not necessary for all kidney stones to be made up of the same types of crystals.

These tests inform about the presence of too much calcium or uric acid in your blood. It helps doctors to check the health of your kidney.

Doctor may advise you to have two urine collections for two consecutive days to assess the amount of stone forming minerals present in your urine.

Imaging tests may include simple abdominal X-rays, high speed, dual energy computerized tomography (CT) and ultrasound to reveal the presence of kidney stones in your urinary tract. One advanced test is intravenous urography where a dye is injected into an arm vein and x-rays or CT images are taken as dye travels through the kidney and bladder.

Management of kidney stone depends upon the size, exact location, consistency of stone and the condition of the patient. It ranges from medicinal therapy to surgery. Stone size is the utmost crucial factor in determining the modality. Surgery is done to prevent the kidney function from deteriorating and prevent the incidence of disease.

The advent of flexible ureteroscopes has allowed intraureteral and renal lithotripsy regardless of the size and location of stone. Ureterorenoscopy using flexible ureteroscope is called Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS). It can be easily used for stones anywhere in the tract. It is especially suited for patients where ESWL cannot be performed (bleeding disorders; obesity) or has failed. With these flexible scopes, virtually any area of the upper collecting system can be visualized by the surgeon.

Its advantages include no incision on the body, short hospital stay & early recovery. The procedure is expensive as the equipment is costly, even doctors need special training to perform it. It is a major leap in endourology in managing urolithiasis and other pathologies in kidney.

This minimally invasive urology procedure is generally used for cases that are otherwise difficult to treat, such as:

Failed attempts at treatment

Kidney stones too large for

Treatment by lithotripsy

Strictures in the kidney

Tumors in the kidney

Kidney stones among children

Bleeding disorders in the kidneys

Grossly obese patients

In those instances when the stone is stuck within the bladder or Ureter, doctors use a device called Ureteroscope for its removal. It is a non-invasive method as there is no incision required. It’s a small wire with a snapper integrated, which is inserted within the Urethra and moved within the bladder. A laser fiber is used to transmit the Holmium energy that breaks up the kidney stone and the surgeon removes a few broken pieces through urethra using a small basket.

Smaller pieces pass through urination. Sometimes, doctors insert a tube known as a stent between urethra and kidney to make it easy to pass kidney stones and improve healingIn those instances when the stone is stuck within the bladder or Ureter, doctors use a device called Ureteroscope for its removal. It is a non-invasive method as there is no incision required. It’s a small wire with a snapper integrated, which is inserted within the Urethra and moved within the bladder. A laser fiber is used to transmit the Holmium energy that breaks up the kidney stone and the surgeon removes a few broken pieces through urethra using a small basket. Smaller pieces pass through urination. Sometimes, doctors insert a tube known as a stent between urethra and kidney to make it easy to pass kidney stones and improve healing

Lithotripsy can be understood as the extracorporeal shock waves (electromagnetic), which are the sound waves, mostly used for breaking down the bigger size stones, making these smoothly pass into the bladder. It’s a complex process and often requires anesthesia. The person may feel strain around abdomen region and back. There may be chances of bleeding around the kidney regions as well.

This method involves the removal of a stone through a tiny incision in the concerned person’s back. These methods are recommended when: