Surgeries are carried only when the stones cannot able to pass through the urinary tract because of increased size, damaging the kidney tissues and when it blocks the flow of urine. Now the treatments become easier as open surgeries are not required. Depending on the nature and effect of stone, treatments are carried out.
In Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), shock waves are created outside the body and make it pass through the skin and body tissues so as to reach the stones. This is the commonly used treatment, the stones will get breakdown due to the waves into smaller particles so that they can travel through the urinary tract with ease along with the urine. Sometimes these smaller particles may also cause some discomfort during urination and also in the back. In such cases, doctors will insert a small tube into the ureter to help the particles pass. Frequent treatments may be needed in case the stones are not completely shattered.
Sometimes ESWL will not be worthy, so doctors will prefer Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy to remove the stone. In this treatment, nephroscope instrument is used in the path created to the kidney from the back. For this treatment, patients have to stay in hospital for several days and also a small tube will be left in the kidney as it gets healed.
Drinking lot of fluids especially water will help in the prevention of getting stones and also staying in hospital for several days. So, drink quarts of water and stay away from kidney stones.