Endoscopic kidney stone treatment at Cardiff and Vale Hospitals

Your kidneys are a filter for your body, remove waste chemicals and excess fluid from your blood by making urine. Most waste dissolves in your urine and passes from your body unnoticed. However, if there's a build-up of chemicals, tiny crystals can form. Several crystals can clump together to form a kidney stone.

What happens during endoscopic kidney stone treatment?

There are several procedures used to treat or remove kidney stones. A procedure called a ureteroscopy is usually performed.

During the procedure

You will be given either general or spinal anaesthetic and the procedure usually takes about 1 hour. 

Your surgeon will use x-rays to help guide a tiny telescope (a cystoscope) into your urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder). They can confirm if there are any problems with your bladder by viewing it through the cystoscope. A thin guide wire will be passed down the cystoscope. After removing the cystoscope the guide wire is used to pass a ureteroscope directly to the kidney stone. Sometimes the ureteroscope is used to remove the stone. Your surgeon could also use a tiny laser to break up the stone. Your surgeon may place a catheter in your bladder to help you pass urine immediately following your treatment.

After the procedure

After your procedure you'll be transferred to a recovery area. 

Recovery from endoscopic kidney stone treatment

You may be able to go home the day of your procedure if you can pass urine on your own. In some cases, you may need to stay overnight at the hospital.

You won't be able to drive, so someone else will need to take you home when you are discharged. Take any pain relief medication as prescribed. 

You may feel a stinging sensation the first few times you pass urine. Drink plenty of fluids to help you pass urine and any pieces of your kidney stone.

You should be able to return to normal activities within 2–3 days after your surgery. Discuss any return to work with your consultant.