Kidney and Ureter Stones

Renal Calculi

Renal calculi are a common condition affecting both men and women and can usually be treated with minimally invasive techniques on a day or overnight stay basis. Stones greater than 2cm in size often cause staghorn calculi treated by percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This is a technique where an instrument is inserted into the kidney over a wire using general anaesthesia. Once the instrument has been inserted into the kidney, stones are fragmented and subsequently removed. The vast majority of kidney stones are smaller than 2cm and are treated with extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Mr. Wells has access to a mobile lithotripter which produces stone fragmentation rates above 90% with concurrent patient satisfactory.

Ureteric Calculi

If kidney stones enter the ureter patients will often present with sudden onset of severe pain and nausea. Small stones under 5mm may pass spontaneously but if this has not occurred within a period of weeks they may need to be treated surgically. Mr. Wells has vast experience in treating ureteric calculi. Stones are either visualised directly with a ureteroscope and fragmented either with a lithoclast stone breaking probe or a holmium laser probe. In some instances if the stone cannot be accessed due to ureteric narrowing and preliminary treatment with a tube from the bladder to the kidney needs to be undertaken. Following removal of the ureteric calculi stone analysis is often performed and medical information is given to decrease the incidence of further stone formation.