Your surgeon for Kidney Stone
Every procedure is carried out by a consultant-level surgeon.
What is Kidney Stone?
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidney and can drop into the ureter, the narrow tube that carries urine down to the bladder. They can stay silent until they move, and then they cause severe pain in the back or side, pain during urination, blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting.
It is why the pain comes in waves - the ureter squeezes against a stone it cannot push along, urine behind it backs up into the kidney, and the pressure builds until the stone shifts again. A stone that blocks completely, or a fever together with a stone, is treated as an emergency.
Diagnosis is made from your symptoms and a physical examination, with an ultrasound or CT scan showing the stone, its size and where it is stuck; urine and blood tests check for infection and how well the kidneys are working.
At Primitive Health Care the usual treatment is ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. A thin scope reaches the stone through the urethra, the laser turns the stone into dust and the fragments pass out in the urine. It takes 30 to 90 minutes, no cut is made and most patients go home the same day.
Illustration only. Your surgeon will explain your own findings.
Kidney Stone treatment at a glance
The essentials, before you read any further.
| Condition | Kidney Stone |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (URS) |
| Duration | 30 to 90 minutes |
| Performed by | Senior Surgeon |
| Anaesthesia | General |
| Hospital stay | Same day discharge in most cases |
| Back to routine | 2 to 4 days |
Are you experiencing any of these?
If two or more of these sound familiar, it is worth speaking to a surgeon.
- Severe pain in the back or side
- Pain that comes and goes in waves
- Pain or burning during urination
- Blood in the urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills, with shaking
Talk to our medical adviser for free
No cost for the first consultation and no obligation to book anything.
Laser treatment compared with open surgery
Both are real options. This is how they differ in practice.
| Open surgery | Laser surgery | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts and incisions | A 8 to 12 cm cut in the back or abdomen | No cuts at all - instruments pass through the urethra |
| Stitches | Many stitches along the cut | None needed on the skin |
| Pain afterwards | Significant, needs strong painkillers | Mild, controlled with routine medication |
| Bleeding | More | Minimal |
| Hospital stay | Three to four days | Same day discharge in most cases |
| Return to work | Three to four weeks | Two to four days |
| Risk of wound infection | Higher, open wound | Low |
Laser treatment is not right for every patient or every grade of the condition. Your surgeon will tell you honestly if open surgery is the better choice for you.
Why patients choose laser treatment
What actually changes for you, day to day.
No cuts or stitches
A thin scope reaches the stone through the urethra, so the skin is never cut and there is nothing to stitch.
Same-day discharge
Most patients go home within a few hours of the procedure rather than staying in hospital for days.
Back to work in days
Normal routine usually resumes within two to four days instead of three to four weeks.
Less bleeding
The laser seals small vessels as it works, so blood loss during the procedure is minimal.
Lower infection risk
With no open wound there is much less risk of a wound infection than after open surgery.
Senior surgeons
Your procedure is done by a senior surgeon at Primitive Health Care, with the same team looking after you from consultation to discharge.
What happens on the day
Step by step, so there are no surprises.
-
Consultation and diagnosis
20 to 30 minutes- You meet the surgeon and describe where the pain is and when it starts
- Urine tests, blood tests and an ultrasound or CT confirm the stone and its size
- The surgeon explains whether laser removal is suitable for you
-
Admission and preparation
1 to 2 hours- Registration at the hospital on the day of the procedure
- Blood pressure, pulse and routine blood tests are checked
- Consent is signed and an IV line is started
-
Anaesthesia
10 to 15 minutes- General anaesthesia, so you stay asleep throughout
- You feel nothing during the procedure
-
The laser procedure
30 to 90 minutes- A thin scope reaches the stone through the urethra, so no cut is made
- The laser breaks the stone into dust and fine fragments
- Fragments too big to dust are lifted out with a small basket
- A thin stent is left so urine can drain freely
-
Recovery and observation
2 to 4 hours- You wake up in the recovery area and nurses check your vitals
- You start taking fluids once you are fully awake
-
Discharge and follow-up
Within 24 hours- Most patients go home the same day
- Painkillers, plenty of fluids and early walking are given
- A follow-up visit is arranged to check that the stone is clear
What will it cost?
The cost depends on how many stones there are, their size and location, whether a stent is needed, the hospital you choose and the operating surgeon. Send your details and a care coordinator will call you with an exact figure. There is no obligation to book.
