Intense pain, nausea, and difficulty peeing are common symptoms of kidney stones, which are solid accumulations of minerals and salts that develop in the kidneys. Kidney stones can pass on their own in smaller stones, but larger stones may necessitate medical attention, such as surgery, to remove them.
The size, location, and degree of symptoms of kidney stones are the three main factors that dictate the surgical treatment. Learn about the several opciones quirúrgicas para eliminar cálculos renales, what to expect before and after the treatment, and what to keep in mind as a patient in this article.
Surgical Options for Kidney Stone Removal
When kidney stones are too big to pass normally, when they cause excruciating pain, or when they create problems like infection or kidney damage, surgery to remove the stones is usually the best option. A variety of surgical procedures exist on the market, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Among them are:
- Ureteroscopy with Laser Lithotripsy: This procedure employs a scope and a laser to break up the stone in a minimally invasive way.
- Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL): A minimally invasive method that shatters the stone into tiny fragments by means of shock waves.
- Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): A technique that involves making a tiny incision in the back in order to remove large or complex stones.
To better comprehend these procedures and what they include, let’s take a closer look at each one individually.
Ureteroscopy utilizing laser lipolysis
One of the most popular methods for eliminating kidney stones from the ureter or kidney is ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy. The use of a ureteroscope, a thin and flexible scope, allows for this minimally invasive treatment to be carried out.
Procedure: Surgeons use ureteroscopes to examine the kidney or ureter by inserting them through the urethra and bladder. The surgeon can see the stone well via the scope. After it has been discovered, the stone is laser-crushed into smaller pieces. Either these pieces are extracted or they are left to pass naturally via the urine.
Recovery: Following ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy, patients typically experience a speedy recovery. After an overnight stay or the very next day, patients are usually able to return home. For a few days after the surgery, you might feel mild pain and see some blood in your urine. Don’t worry, these side effects usually go away soon. The ureter may have a temporary stent put in to aid with drainage and healing; this stent is typically removed within one week.
Benefits: When less intrusive procedures fail to treat stones, ureteroscopy is a lifesaver. This method is great for treating kidney and ureteral stones without making any visible incisions.
Dangers: Infection, hemorrhage, ureteral damage, and the necessity of further treatments in the event that not all stone fragments are extracted are possible dangers.
A procedure known as percutaneous nephrolithotomy
As a whole, When alternative treatment options fail, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) becomes the treatment of choice for big or complicated kidney stones. When other methods of stone removal have failed, or when the stones are too big to move through the body normally, this more intrusive surgery is the way to go.
Procedure: With general anesthesia, PCNL is carried out. on order to get to the kidneys immediately, the surgeon creates a little cut on the back of the patient. In order to see the stone, a nephroscope—a tiny tube equipped with a camera—is sent through the cut. The surgeon uses specialized tools to either completely remove the stone or cut it into smaller pieces so that it can be retrieved.
Depending on the patient’s general condition and the intricacy of the PCNL procedure, the length of time spent in the hospital for recovery might range from one to three days. In the weeks leading up to a full recovery, patients should expect to feel sore and need plenty of rest. During the recuperation process, a temporary drainage tube may be inserted into the kidney to assist with urine flow.
Benefits: When other procedures fail to remove big, complicated stones, PCNL is the way to go. It enables a single surgery to remove kidney stones entirely.
The risks of percutaneous coronary nephrolithotomy (PCNL) include infection, hemorrhage, damage to nearby organs, and, extremely rarely, the need for further treatments to remove any remaining stone.
Conclusion
Patients who endure excruciating pain due to kidney stones might find excellent treatment through the procedure of kidney stone removal surgery. There are a variety of current surgical alternatives available, including ureteroscopy and PCNL, both of which are minimally invasive procedures that have good success rates and tolerable recovery durations.
Improved results and long-term kidney health can be achieved when patients collaborate together with their healthcare providers to identify the optimal surgical technique for their unique disease.
