Kidney Stone Surgery & Removal Birmingham

Kidney Stone Surgery Birmingham

Kidney stones form inside the kidney. They are really most commonly made up of a mixture of calcium along with oxalate, less commonly of uric acid or struvite. Small stones inside the kidney in many cases are entirely asymptomatic. If the stone moves into the ureter (narrow tube leading from kidney to bladder) then extreme pain (Renal colic) is definitely experienced. Stones could perhaps cause kidney damage along with infection.

Almost all small stones (<5mm) will pass through without having surgery becoming required. If the stone does not pass through or is larger then a surgical procedure is required.

There are various surgical procedures, the most appropriate is dependent upon stone size and location. Stones within the kidney could be dealt with by flexible ureteroscopy + LASER, Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. At your appointment we shall discuss the most effective treatment for your particular circumstance.

Birmingham Kidney Stone Surgery

Ureteroscopy and Lasering of Stones

Ureteroscopy is performed to treat stones located inside the ureter or kidney. Flexible scopes are employed to inspect and treat stones within the upper ureter as well as kidney. Rigid scopes are used to treat stones while in the lower ureter.

Procedure
Ureteroscopy is conducted under a general anaesthetic. A lengthy narrow telescope is inserted through the urethra, directly into the bladder then up into the ureter and kidney. Stones are treated by advancing a thin laser fibre through the actual ureteroscope and applying the laser beam to fragment stones within the ureter or kidney. The bigger stone fragments are then removed by using a small basket.

Operation Kidney Stone Surgery Birmingham

After stone treatment a temporary ureteric stent might be introduced. A ureteric stent is usually a thin flexible plastic-type material tube running from the kidney along the ureter into the bladder. It’s completely internal. A ureteric stent may perhaps be applied for a number of reasons:

The ureter may be too small in order to permit easy telescope passage. If this is the situation then leaving a ureteric stent in for couple of weeks allows the ureter to dilate thus permitting ureteroscopy at a later date.

There are residual stones within the kidney, that will require additional treatment. The stent allows the kidney to continue to drain without difficulty protecting against even further episodes of colic and allowing easy re-introduction of the ureteroscope at a second procedure.
The stone has been removed nonetheless there is certainly concern that the ureter may possibly swell following surgery. This will cause pain identical to renal colic. A stent helps prevent this. The stent is typically removed within two weeks.

Urological Surgeon

Senior Consultant Urological Surgeon Working at Spire Little Aston Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham for last since 2005.

Graduated as a doctor in 1984 and have been working in the NHS for over 30 years. I started my Urology career in 1991 and completed training at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospital, Oxford in 2000.