The presence of kidney stones in the body can cause immense pain and discomfort. It becomes essential to get rid of the stones to resume your life when the pain occurs. There are different procedures to get rid of the stones. In cases, when the stone is larger, cannot be disposed of while urination and is stuck in the urinary tract then surgery becomes important.
What is the procedure?
There are several ways to remove urinary stones and one of them is Laser stone surgery. This kind of surgery is minimally invasive during which the patient is given anaesthesia. A small lighted instrument called a Ureteroscopy is placed into the urethra and urinary bladder, which makes it easier to see the stone in the kidney and ureter.
Once the stone is visible, a laser fibre is used to transmit Holmium energy to break up the kidney stones. The surgeon removes some pieces through the urethra with a small basket, and smaller pieces can be passed later with urination. The surgeon may also use a high-powered holmium laser with high-frequency emissions that dust the stones into a fine powder. These fine particles are then passed through urine after surgery.
What happens on surgery day?
Your surgeon will advise you and give instructions on what to do with your medications and diet before the day of your surgery. Most laser surgery treatments are done on an outpatient basis, so you can go home on the same day.
You will be given general anesthesia so that you can sleep through the surgery. This helps to make sure that you are still when small instruments are inside your body. New lasers are precise and powerful which can help the surgeon to control and fragment the stones.
What happens after the surgery?
You may experience pain after the completion of the surgery. Your doctor will prescribe some medications after surgery, which generally includes some antibiotics to prevent infection, pain and some medicines to treat bladder spasms and burning with urination.
You must drink plenty of water so that the small stones can move out of the kidney. You will frequently feel the urge to urinate. You can resume normal activities from the next day.
Can the stone reoccur?
It is possible that the person who has had a kidney stone once in life can have it again. After the surgery is done, the stone is sent to the lab for re-examination. The composition of the stone is known through the results of investigation. Further preventive measures will be advised by the doctor for prevention of formation of stones. However, the most common suggestions given by doctors are lifestyle changes and diet alterations which should be followed by the patient.
Gujarat Superspeciality Hospital, Vadodara provides the best healthcare for all kidney problems.
