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Kidney Pain? Understanding Kidney Stone Removal (Gurde Ki Pathri Ka Ilaaj)

Kidney stones (or "Gurde ki Pathri") can cause severe, sudden pain, often in the back or side. These are hard deposits that form in your kidneys when certain minerals and salts build up. While small stones might pass on their own, larger or problematic stones often need medical help to be removed. Thankfully, there are many safe and effective ways to get rid of them!

What is this procedure? What are the common types/methods?

The method for removing kidney stones depends on their size, location, and type.

  • ESWL (Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy):
    • What it is: This is a non-invasive method. You lie on a special table, and sound waves (shockwaves) are sent from outside your body through your skin to the stone. These waves break the stone into tiny pieces, which then pass out in your urine over time.
    • Advantages: No cuts, outpatient procedure.
  • Ureteroscopy (URS) / RIRS (Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery):
    • What it is: The surgeon inserts a thin, flexible tube with a camera (ureteroscope or renoscope) through your urine tube (urethra) and bladder, up to the ureter (tube connecting kidney to bladder) or into the kidney itself. Once the stone is seen, a laser (like Holmium or Thulium laser) is used to break it into tiny pieces. These pieces are either removed with a tiny basket or allowed to pass naturally.
    • Advantages: No external cuts, direct visualization of the stone, very effective for stones in the ureter or kidney. RIRS uses a more flexible scope, allowing access to almost any part of the kidney.
  • PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy):
    • What it is: This is for larger or more complex kidney stones. The surgeon makes a small cut (about 1 cm) in your back. A tube is inserted directly into the kidney, and a special instrument (nephroscope) is used to break up and remove the stone.
    • Advantages: Very effective for large stones, often clears the stone in one go.
  • Open Surgery:
    • What it is: This involves a larger cut in your back or side to remove the stone. This is rarely done now, only for very complex cases that cannot be treated by other methods.

When is this indicated?

Your urologist (kidney and urinary tract specialist) will recommend stone removal if:

  • The stone is too large to pass on its own (generally >5mm).
  • The stone is causing severe, unbearable pain.
  • The stone is blocking urine flow, leading to kidney swelling (hydronephrosis) or kidney damage.
  • The stone is causing repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • The stone is growing larger.

Latest Advancements and their Advantages

Kidney stone treatment is constantly improving:

  • Flexible Ureteroscopes and Digital Scopes: These advanced scopes allow doctors to reach even difficult-to-access stones in the kidney with better vision.
  • Advanced Lasers (Thulium Fiber Laser - TFL): Newer lasers are more efficient at breaking stones with less heat buildup, allowing faster fragmentation and better stone clearance. They also have less "recoil" (pushing the stone away), making the procedure quicker.
  • Miniaturized PCNL: Smaller instruments for PCNL mean smaller cuts, less pain, and faster recovery for large stones.
  • Non-invasive technologies: While SWL has reduced in use, new research is always happening in non-invasive techniques.

Average Length of Stay in Hospital and Recovery Time

  • ESWL: Usually an outpatient procedure (go home the same day).
  • URS/RIRS: Often a daycare procedure (go home same day) or 1-night stay.
  • PCNL: Typically 2 to 4 days in the hospital.
  • Open Surgery: Longer, usually 5 to 7 days.
  • Recovery Time:
    • ESWL: You can usually resume normal activities the next day, though stone fragments may pass for days to weeks.
    • URS/RIRS: Light activities in 2-3 days. Full recovery in 1-2 weeks. You might have a temporary stent in your ureter for a few days to weeks to help drainage.
    • PCNL: Light activities in 1-2 weeks. Full recovery in 3-4 weeks.

Success Rates and Common Complications

  • Success Rates:
    • ESWL: Varies by stone size and type, often 50-80% stone-free rate in one sitting.
    • URS/RIRS: Very high, often 90-95% stone-free for suitable stones.
    • PCNL: Highest success rate for large stones, often over 95% in one go.
  • Common Complications (Rare but good to know):
    • Pain/Discomfort: As stone fragments pass.
    • Blood in urine: Common for a few days after procedures.
    • Infection: Of the urinary tract.
    • Bleeding: Usually minor, rarely requiring blood transfusion.
    • Ureteric injury/perforation: Very rare, especially with advanced scopes.
    • Stone fragments remaining: Sometimes, small pieces might be left and need another procedure or watchful waiting.
Don't suffer silently with kidney stone pain. Consult a urologist to understand the best way to get rid of them.

Do you need to find the best kidney stone treatment hospitals and expert urologists in Lucknow? Reach out to the Medifinder team at +91 63066 62068 for personalized help!

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