ElIMINATION OF KIDNEY STONE:
Initial treatment for kidney stones aims at relieving pain. This may include strong narcotic based pain relief such as morphine. If pain and other symptoms are severe, admission to hospital may be necessary so that pain relief and fluids can be given via a drip into a vein (intravenously). If infection is suspected or shown to be present, antibiotic medications may be given.
Underlying medical conditions will need to be identified and treated in order to prevent recurrence of the kidney stones.
In the majority of cases the kidney stones will pass by themselves. In these cases the only treatment required is adequate pain relief and plenty of fluids and rest.
In cases where the stones are too large to pass, the pain is excessive, there is evidence of kidney damage or infection, further treatment to remove the stones may be necessary.
SURGERY:
The different surgical techniques used to remove kidney stones include:
*Ureteric stone removal – Where a tube is passed via the urethra and bladder
into the ureter, where the kidney stones are located and removed.
*Percutaneous nephrolithotomy – Where a thin tube (nephrostomy tube) is inserted
directly into the kidney through the skin. The stone is located and removed via
the tube or shattered by ultrasonic waves.
*Open surgery – This may be necessary if the stones are large, are lodged in the
kidney, and other techniques to remove the stones are unsuitable.
LITHOTRIPSY (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy – ESWL):
Lithotripsy is a non-invasive alternative to surgery that uses high-energy shock waves to shatter the stones. Once the stones are disintegrated, the sand-like fragments that remain pass out of the body in the urine. Large stones may require more than one lithotripsy treatment.
