Kidney Stone Laser Lithotripsy Stent

During this procedure a laser beam is applied directly to the stone to break it into small pieces and passed easily.

Kidney stone laser lithotripsy stent.

Kidney stones affect 1 in 500 americans each year causing significant pain and healthcare expense. After removing your kidney stones the surgeon will have sent one for analysis. The ureteroscope device which provides a video image and has small working channels is inserted into the bladder and up the ureter until the stone is encountered. Laser lithotripsy is a way to treat kidney stones.

Lithotripsy is a procedure that uses sound waves to break up stones in the kidney ureter or bladder. Ureteroscopy involves the use of a small flexible or rigid device called a ureteroscope to directly see and treat stones. For several hours after the procedure you may have a burning feeling when you urinate. National institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases niddk.

This feeling should go away within a day. Lithotripsy is a noninvasive the skin is not pierced procedure used to treat kidney stones that are too large to pass through the urinary tract. Diagram of laser lithotripsy. Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for the treatment of kidney stones ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy is used to break up kidney stones by that were not passed and remain lodged in the ureter.

Surgical options for patients with symptomatic kidney stones include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy eswl ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy pcnl. Drinking a lot of water can help. The type of laser used with the ureteroscope is called a holmium laser. Based on the stone s composition your doctor will recommend ways to prevent future kidney stones.

You may have blood in your urine for 1 to 2 days after the procedure. You may feel the urge to go even if you don t need to. You may also have bruising and discomfort in your back or abdomen. This treatment uses a laser to break kidney stones into tiny pieces.

Lithotripsy treats kidney stones by sending focused ultrasonic energy or shock waves directly to the stone first located with fluoroscopy a type of x ray movie or ultrasound high frequency sound waves. The stent does have to be removed so don t forget to make your post surgery appointment for its removal. The stone pieces then pass out of your body through your urine. In shock wave lithotripsy a machine known as a lithotripter is used to crush the kidney stone according to the u s.

A ureteroscopy that uses a laser to break up small kidney stones may take about 90 minutes.