Urology

Urological Conditions

Surgical Treatments of Kidney Stones

Ureteroscopy (URS)

Though shock wave lithotripsy is sometimes effective for treating ureteral stones (stones stuck in the ureters), more often ureteroscopy is needed. This is another form of minimally invasive surgery. In fact, it requires no incision at all. Instead, the surgeon inserts a ureteroscope, a small, flexible, telescope-like instrument, into the urethra, through the bladder and into the ureter. Using the ureteroscope, doctors can locate and remove the stone.

Usually, patients are under anesthesia during this procedure, do not stay in the hospital overnight, have a stent in the ureter for a few days after it, and resume normal activity after a day or two.