What Should I Expect After Laser Treatment For Kidney Stones
Minor pain and a little blood in the urine is normal after the surgery. However, if you notice abnormal symptoms, contact your doctor without delay. Call your doctor in case any of the following conditions arise:
- Dislocation of the stent
- Large amounts of blood in the urine
- Severe pain
- Inability to pass the smaller stone fragments
Also, remember that your lifestyle plays a crucial role in the recovery as well. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic diseases, and obesity can make you more prone to complications after the surgery. Therefore, change your lifestyle accordingly so that these do not add up to your misery.
Shockwave Therapy For Kidney Stones
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is a nonsurgical treatment for kidney stones. Kidney stone extracorporeal shockwave therapy uses high-energy waves to break kidney stones into tiny pieces that can then be passed with urine.
Most patients are free of stones within three months of treatment. Those with stones in the kidney and upper ureter have the most success with this treatment.
We use kidney stone extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy to remove stones that:
- Are too large to pass
- Cause constant pain
- Block the flow of urine
- Cause an ongoing infection
- Damage kidney tissue
- Cause bleeding
Fragments too large to pass after the procedure can be treated with lithotripsy a second time.
How Long Does It Take To Pass A Kidney Stone
The amount of time it can take for you to pass a kidney stone is different from anothers. A stone thats smaller than 4 mm may pass within one to two weeks. A stone thats larger than 4 mm could take about two to three weeks to completely pass.
Once the stone reaches the bladder, it typically passes within a few days, but may take longer, especially in an older man with a large prostate. However, pain may subside even if the stone is still in the ureter, so its important to follow up with your healthcare provider if you dont pass the stone within four to six weeks.
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When Is Ureteroscopy Used
Most often ureteroscopy is used for stones in the ureter, especially for stones closest to the bladder, in the lower half of the ureter. lt is the most common treatment of lower ureteral stones. For stones in the kidney, shock wave lithotripsy is the most common treatment. SWL treatment cannot be used in everyone. For patients who are pregnant, morbidly obese, or have a blood clotting disorder, ureteroscopy is a good choice. For very large or oddly shaped stones, or stones that are very hard, other treatments such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy or, rarely, open surgery may be needed.
What Happens On Surgery Day
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on what to do with your medications and diet before the date of your procedure. Most laser kidney stone treatments are done on an outpatient basis, so you can go home the same day.
You will have general anesthesia, so you will sleep through surgery. This helps make sure that you are still when the small instruments are inside your body. Newer lasers are precise and powerful which can make it easier for the surgeon to control and fragment the stone. This helps reduce the time of your surgery, so you can spend less time asleep and get back to your normal routine faster.
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So What Is The Best Procedure For Kidney Stone Removal
For larger stones causing excruciating pain or that may not pass on their own, surgery is typically the best treatment. There are four surgical procedures your urologist may consider: shockwave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and robot-assisted surgery. The best surgical procedure for your kidney stones will depend on their type and location.
You will need surgical kidney stone removal if:
At St Pete Urology, our urologists are highly trained and experienced in a full range of surgical procedures for removing kidney stones. We conduct minimally-invasive procedures which guarantee faster healing.
The procedure we perform on a patient will depend on the nature and location of the stone, the patients overall health, and other factors.
We ensure that you get the best possible care as quickly as possible, from surgery through recovery.
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Kidney Stone Surgery Recovery
Our urology experts will be there for you throughout your recovery to monitor your progress and ensure you are in good health.
We may prescribe medication like tamsulosin to relax and open your ureter for a period after surgery. Tamsulosin can make it easier for stones or stone fragments to pass. We may also have you use a strainer to collect stone pieces if they pass in your urine so we can test them.
If we placed a temporary stent in your ureter during surgery, we will remove it during an office visit two to 10 days after your procedure.
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What Does Recovery After Shock Wave Lithotripsy Look Like
As you recover from shock wave lithotripsy, you can expect to:
- Feel sore for a day or two: Right after shock wave lithotripsy, you may feel sore or stiff near the treatment area. Some people notice slight bruising along their side.
- See blood in your urine: Its common to see small amounts of blood in your urine. It may hurt to urinate. These symptoms usually go away after a few days.
- Collect stone pieces that you pass: Testing the stone may tell your provider what caused your kidney stones . Your provider may give you a urine strainer. It looks like a funnel with mesh at the bottom. It collects stone fragments when you pee.
- Drop off the stone sample for testing: You can store the stone fragments you collect in a specimen cup your provider gives you or a plastic bag. Follow your providers instructions. You may need to take it to your next follow-up visit or drop the sample off at a lab.
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated helps stone fragments move through your body. Drinking water may also help you avoid constipation .
What Else Do You Need To Make Your Decision
Check the facts
- That’s right. The smaller a stone is, the more likely it is to pass on its own.
- No, that’s not right. The smaller a stone is, the more likely it is to pass on its own.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” The smaller a stone is, the more likely it is to pass on its own.
- No, that’s not right. You will probably not have lithotripsy if you are pregnant or have a bleeding disorder, kidney infection, urinary tract infection, kidney cancer, or some other kidney problems.
- Yes, that’s right. You will probably not have lithotripsy if you are pregnant or have a bleeding disorder, kidney infection, urinary tract infection, kidney cancer, or some other kidney problems.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” Lithotripsy isn’t the best choice if you are pregnant or have a bleeding disorder, kidney infection, urinary tract infection, kidney cancer, or some other kidney problems.
1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
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How Successful Is Shock Wave Lithotripsy
ln those patients who are thought to be good candidates for this treatment, some 50-75% are found to be free of stones within three months of SWL treatment. The highest success rates seem to be in those patients with smaller stones .
After treatment, some patients may still have stone fragments that are too large to be passed. These can be treated again if necessary with shock waves or with another treatment.
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Some Medication May Help Kidney Stones Pass
If a stone has a reasonable chance of passing, doctors may prescribe tamsulosin, an alpha-blocker medication that relaxes the muscles of the distal ureter, which is the portion of the ureter right above the bladder, says Timothy F. Lesser, MD, a urologist at Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Relaxing the ureter may help a stone pass, especially if it is in the 5- to 10-millimeter range, and can relieve discomfort, adds Clayman. For most patients, waiting two to four weeks for a stone to pass is reasonable, he says.
In general, tamsulosin is well tolerated, adds John C. Lieske, MD, a consultant in the division of nephrology and hypertension at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Using it to help with stone passage is fairly common, as long as the patient is not in severe pain that requires hospital admission for a surgical procedure, he says.
But the effectiveness of tamsulosin has been called into question more recently. A study published in July 2015 in the journal The Lancet found that tamsulosin didnt help stones pass. 60933-3/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> 3) Yet, research published in the March 2018 in the journal European Urology did find a benefit to taking the medication. 30972-7/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> 4)
Its best to talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns about the benefits and possible risks of taking the medication or other options.
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Risks Of The Procedure
You may want to ask your doctor about the amount of radiation used during the procedure and the risks related to your particular situation. It is a good idea to keep a record of your past history of radiation exposure, such as previous scans and other types of X-rays, so that you can inform your doctor. Risks associated with radiation exposure may be related to the cumulative number of X-ray examinations and/or treatments over a long period of time.
Complications of lithotripsy may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Bleeding around the kidney
- Obstruction of the urinary tract by stone fragments
- Stone fragments left that may require more lithotripsies
Contraindications for lithotripsy include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Pregnant patients
- Patients on “blood thinners” or patients with bleeding disorders. Aspirin or other blood thinners must be discontinued for at least 1 week prior to lithotripsy.
- Patients with chronic kidney infection, as some fragments may not pass, so the bacteria will not be completely eliminated from the kidney.
- Patients with obstruction or scar tissue in the ureter, which may prevent stone fragments from passing.
- Patients who require immediate and/or complete clearance of stone material.
- Patients with stones composed of cystine and certain types of calcium, as these stones do not fragment well with lithotripsy
Obesity and intestinal gas may interfere with a lithotripsy procedure.
No Hospital Stay Needed
Unlike with surgery, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that patients can return home shortly after their procedure is complete. Before heading home, patients will be instructed to:
- Drink plenty of fluids to help their stone fragments pass
- Strain their urine for stone fragments that can be analyzed by Dr. Allen
- Take pain medication or antibiotics as prescribed by Dr. Allen
- Attend follow up appointments to review symptoms and determine if the stone has passed
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What Can The Patient Expect After Treatment
After treatment is complete, the patient can move about almost at once. Many people can fully resume daily activities within one to two days. Special diets are not required, but drinking plenty of water helps the stone fragments pass. Some pain may occur when the fragments pass, which begins soon after treatment and may last for up to four to eight weeks. Oral pain medication and drinking lots of water will help relieve symptoms.
When Would I Get One
A ureteroscopy is usually done when you have kidney stones in your ureter.
Kidney stones are pebble-like objects made of minerals and salts found in urine. They form in a kidney, but can move down the ureter.
A urologist may also recommend a ureteroscopy if they suspect a polyp, tumor or abnormal tissue somewhere in your urinary tract.
The doctor can also use the special scope to remove a stone, polyp, or a piece of tissue for lab tests.
You may also get other tests if your doctor thinks you may have a urinary tract infection or a related problem. Some of them include:
- Urine test to diagnose possible infections.
- CT scan to diagnose kidney stones and identify their size and location.
- MRI to provide detailed images of your kidneys, bladder, and other internal organs.
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How Do You Dissolve Kidney Stones And Get Them To Pass
So you have one or more kidney stones lodged in the kidney and want to dissolve and flush them out fast? Youll need a higher dose than the normal maintenance dosing. Many sufferers find they can fix the problem with pure chanca piedra and water.
Heres how to dissolve kidney stones:
The name, Chanca Piedra itself translates literally to Stone Breaker. Scientists and doctors globally have praised the use of this herbal remedy in the treatment of kidney stones. The analgesic compounds in lab grade Chanca Piedra help ease pain while passing stones and reduce those stones in size so the particles can pass through your urine stream easily. In addition, lab grade Chanca Piedra acts as a defense system, so to speak, to reduce reoccurrence of kidney stones. This effect is due to the herbal remedys reduction of the very minerals that build in up in the kidneys to produce kidney stones excess oxalate, phosphorous, and magnesium. You could spend days drinking olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, large amounts of Coke, and asparagus puree, with limited success, if any. We find far superior and consistent results from kidney stone sufferers who took lab grade Chanca Piedra, and the science backs those real world findings.
Why The Procedure Is Performed
Lithotripsy is used to remove kidney stones that are causing:
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Urinary tract infections
Not all kidney stones can be removed using lithotripsy. The stone may also be removed with:
- A tube inserted into the kidney through a small surgical cut in the back.
- A small lighted tube inserted through the bladder into ureters. Ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.
- Open surgery .
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What To Expect After Surgery
- Flank Pain: Most patients experience some degree of discomfort for a day or two after ESWL. The pain is usually described as a dull ache or soreness over the kidney or flank area, and is typically at its worst the evening following surgery. The pain lessens over the following days.
- Blood in Urine: It is normal to see visible blood in the urine for days to several weeks after surgery. It is important during this time of bleeding that you avoid strenuous activity, blood thinning medications, and drink plenty of fluid.
- Fevers: Low grade fevers are not uncommon following any surgical procedure and anesthesia. If you have fevers > 101o F, please notify your surgeon or call352-265-0111 and ask to be connected to the urologist on call.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of This Treatment
The main advantage of this treatment is that many patients may be treated for kidney stones without surgery. As a result, complications, hospital stays, costs and recovery time are reduced. Unfortunately, not all types of kidney stones can be treated this way. In addition, stone fragments are occasionally left in the body and additional treatments are needed.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Eswl
Many patients become alarmed when they notice a red tinge to their urinary in the days following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. It is perfectly normal for a small amount of blood to appear, and the patient is also likely to notice bruising at the treatment site as well as mild back pain. All of these effects should dissipate over a few days but should be addressed by Dr. Allen if they begin to worsen.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has proven effective in 70-90% of all cases after three months. However, it is not a guarantee for every individual with kidney stones, and some large fragments from ESWL may require further treatment from Dr. Allen to have them broken down further or removed from the body.
Stent Removal After Kidney Stone Surgery
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Natural Remedies To Fight Kidney Stones At Home
Kidney stones are a common health problem.
Passing these stones can be incredibly painful, and unfortunately, people who have experienced kidney stones are more likely to get them again (
However, there are a few things you can do to reduce this risk.
This article explains what kidney stones are and outlines 8 dietary ways to fight them.
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Urinary System Parts And Their Functions:
- Two kidneys. A pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. Their function is to:
- Remove liquid waste from the blood in the form of urine
- Keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood
- Produce erythropoietin, a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells
- Regulate blood pressure
The kidneys remove urea from the blood through tiny filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron consists of a ball formed of small blood capillaries, called a glomerulus, and a small tube called a renal tubule. Urea, together with water and other waste substances, forms the urine as it passes through the nephrons and down the renal tubules of the kidney.
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