Treatment options for kidney stones

Kidney Stones›Treatment options for kidney stones

The choice of treatment for kidney stones will depend on the type of stone and the cause of the kidney stones¹

Get physically active^2–4

Most small kidney stones would not require surgery. Below are some of the treatments your doctor may advise or prescribe

Drink plenty of water (1.8–3.6 L per day) to keep your urine dilute

Passing of a small stone can cause discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever and medication to help you pass kidney stones more quickly and with less pain

Your doctor may also prescribe citrate preparation to prevent new stone formation and reduce further growth of the kidney stones

Large stones and stones that cause symptoms¹

Kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own or cause bleeding, kidney damage or urinary tract infections require more intensive treatment. Procedures to remove these kidney stones may include the following:

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

A procedure that uses sound waves to break up stones into tiny pieces
Usually lasts for about 45–60 minutes and can cause moderate pain
Can cause blood in the urine, bruising on the back or abdomen, bleeding around the kidneys and discomfort

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

A surgical procedure to remove kidney stones using a small telescope and an instrument inserted through a small incision to your back
Your doctor may recommend this surgery if ESWL is unsuccessful

Ureteroscope

A scope with a thin lighted tube equipped with a camera passes through your urethra and bladder to your ureter to locate the stone
Once the stone is located, another special tool is used to break the stone into pieces, which will pass in your urine

References

1 – Mayo Clinic. Kidney stones – diagnosis and treatment. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-stones/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355759?p=1. Accessed 20 June 2021.
2 – Philips R, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;10:CD010057.