Kidney stones, or renal lithiasis, are caused by many things, including dehydration, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dehydration causes the urine in your urinary tract to become concentrated, increasing the chances that normally occurring salts will form stones. They often cause side or back pain but rarely cause permanent damage. Many stones may simply be treated with pain medication and drinking up to 2 to 3 quarts of water daily, waiting for the stone to pass. However, some may require more invasive removal methods. This is especially true if the stone is too large to pass through the urinary tract or is causing damage to the kidneys and other parts of the urinary system. There are several common kidney stone removal procedures.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy
This method of treatment for larger stones uses sound waves that effectively break them down into smaller pieces that are more likely to pass through the urinary tract. Light sedation is often necessary during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, because it can be moderately painful. Side effects of this procedure include blood in the urine, bruising in the back and abdomen, kidney or surrounding organ bleeding, and pain experienced while passing the pieces of stone.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
This type of surgery physically removes an existing kidney stone by making a small incision in the patient's back. The Mayo Clinic states that percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be necessary if shock wave therapy proves unsuccessful and in cases of extremely large stones.
Ureteroscope Methods
A ureteroscope, or thin lighted tube, may be passed through the urethra and into the urinary tract to locate a kidney stone. Upon finding the stone, it is either pulled out of the tract or broken into pieces to be passed in the urine.
Parathyroid Gland Removal
Patients experiencing repeat occurrences of calcium kidney stones may need to have surgery on their parathyroid glands. These are located around the thyroid gland and secrete parathyroid hormone. This hormone can increase the level of calcium in your body and your urine, contributing to these stones. This is sometimes caused by a tumor on one of these glands, which can be removed surgically. Your doctor may choose to remove the entire gland as well.
