Kidney stones may not cause symptoms until they move into the ureter (the tube draining the kidney into the urinary bladder). Common symptoms include:

• Severe pain in the lower back, abdomen, or groin
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Blood in the urine (hematuria)
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills (if infection is present)

Kidney stones form when the balance of minerals, salts, and fluids in the urine is disrupted, leading to crystallization. Common causes include:

• Inadequate fluid intake leading to concentrated urine
• High sodium or sugar intake
• Diets with an excess of animal protein
• Overuse of Vitamin C supplements
• Family history of kidney stones

Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing kidney stones, including:

• Low urine volume: Insufficient hydration causes concentrated urine.
• Dietary factors: High salt, sugar, or animal protein consumption.
• Climate: Living in hot climates increases the risk of dehydration.
• Medical conditions: Hypertension, gout, and obesity.
• Family history: Genetic predisposition to kidney stones.

ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy)

• A series of shock waves are used to break the stone into fragments small enough to pass out of the kidney
• Requires no incision and is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia

Ureteroscopy

• A long, thin, flexible camera is inserted through the urethra and is navigated through the urinary tract to access the kidney stone
• The stone is fractured using laser energy delivered via a fiber-optic. Fragments of stone are removed by grasping with a stone “basket”
• In most cases a temporary internal plastic tube, called a “ureteral stent”, is left in place to aid in drainage of the kidney after the procedure. This tube is removed typically 1 week after ureteroscopy.
• Requires no incision and is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL or “Perc”)

• Used for removal of larger stones that cannot be treated by other means
• A hollow tube is placed into the kidney through a small (3/4-inch) incision in the back
• An ultrasonic lithotripter (or laser energy) is used to pulverize the stone(s) into granules that can be suctioned from the kidney or removed with graspers

Laparoscopic or Open Surgery

• For very large or complex kidney or ureteral stones. This is rarely required.

Combination / Staged Treatment

• The use of multiple or repeat treatments described above for patients with multiple stones or large/complex stones that cannot be successfully removed in a single treatment.