Kidney Stone Disease

A kidney stone develops from small crystals that build up in the kidney. Normally, urine contains substances that prevent these crystals from forming. Sometimes, stones form anyway.

If they're small enough, kidney stones can pass through your body without causing any symptoms. However, if they grow larger, they may get stuck in your urinary tract (your ureter, bladder or urethra).

The most common symptoms of kidney stones include:

• A burning feeling when you urinate.
• Bloody, cloudy or odorous urine.
• Extreme, sharp pain in your back, side, abdomen or groin that will not go away, even when you change positions. The pain may last for a short or long time and may come and go in waves.
• Fever and chills.
• Frequent urination.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• You can’t urinate or you urinate only a small amount.

The symptoms of kidney stones may feel like other health problems. The earlier you seek medical care for your symptoms, the sooner you can receive a diagnosis and begin treatment.

To diagnose kidney stone disease, we will do a medical exam and discuss your medical history and symptoms. We may recommend one or more diagnostic tests. These include:

• Blood tests: These tests assess your kidney function and look for substances that may cause stones to form.

• CT scan: This advanced X‑ray scan provides us with detailed images of your kidney and surrounding area.

• Renal ultrasound: This noninvasive imaging scan helps us see the size and shape of your kidney. We can look for tumors, stones or other blockages.

• Urinalysis: We check your urine for substances that indicate kidney stones. We may perform a 24‑hour urine test to determine if you have risk factors for kidney stone formation.

• Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP): We use a combination of X‑rays and dye to check blood flow to your kidney and look for tumors, kidney stones and blockages.

Our team has experience in a range of methods that can effectively treat your kidney stone and help you feel better. The right treatment depends on the kidney stone size and your overall health. We will tailor your treatment plan to your unique needs.

Our kidney stone disease treatment options include:

• Potassium citrate: We may prescribe potassium citrate tablets to treat stones made of calcium and urate. You take the tablets with plenty of fluids. The citrate helps dissolve and drain the stone.
• Minimally Invasive Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL): We use minimally invasive surgery to break up the stone using sound waves. The sound waves create strong vibrations that shatter the stones into tiny pieces. The pieces can then easily pass into your urine.
• Ureteroscope: We insert a long wire with a camera into your urethra. We then pass the wire through your bladder to your ureter, where the stone is located. Using a tiny instrument, we grab and remove the stone.
• Tunnel surgery (percutaneous nephrolithotomy): During this kidney stone surgery, we make a small incision in your back, creating a narrow tunnel to the stone inside the kidney. Our expert surgeons can remove the stone through this tunnel.
• Dietary changes and medication: We can recommend changes to your diet and certain medications that may prevent more stones from forming.