Kidney stone removal has four procedures/methods:
1. Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
Kidney
stone removal of ESWL uses non-electrical shock waves that are produced
out of the body to pass through the skin and body tissues until the
shockwaves hit the solid stones. The stones turn out to be sand-like and
are passed.
For removal of this procedure, patient acre located
in a tub of warm, purified water or onto water cushion machine that
operates as a means for passing on these non-electrical shockwaves.
2. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PNL)
Different
from removal method mentioned above, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is
regularly utilized when the stone is very large or in a place that does
not permit effectual use of ESWL.
In this procedure of kidney
stone removal, the surgeon makes an insignificant incision in the back
and makes a tunnel immediately into the kidney. By means of an
instrument called a nephroscope, the stone is positioned and removed.
For large stones, an energy probe (ultrasonic or electrohydraulic)
perhaps required to break down the stone into smaller pieces for
removal.
The benefit of this procedure over lithotripsy is the
physical removal of the stone fragments rather than relying on their
natural passage from the kidney to the outside.
3. Ureteroscopic Stone Removal
Ureteroscopic
stone removal is accomplished by passing a small fiberoptic instrument
(an ureteroscope) through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. The
surgeon afterward locates the stone and either removes it with a
cage-like tool or breaks it with a particular instrument that creates a
form of shockwave. A small tube (or stent) possibly left in the ureter
for more than a few days after treatment to assist the lining of the
ureter to heal.
This removal procedure is operated under common
anesthesia to treat stones found in the middle and lower ureter. Small
stones are removed and large stones are broken by a laser or similar
device.
4. Open (incisional) Surgery
This last removal
method includes opening the affected area and removing the stone(s). In
this procedure, run in an operating room after a person has been given
anesthesia, the surgeon creates an incision in the skin and unlocks the
pelvis of the kidney or the ureter in order that the stone can be
manually removed. Since open surgery is a principal operation, healing
may need four to six weeks.
