The optimal treatment of a urinary stone depends on its size and location.
Medically assisted stone expulsion
In uncomplicated cases, the expulsion of a urinary stone can be supported with medication.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
This non-invasive method uses so-called shock waves to break kidney and ureteral stones into small fragments, which are then passed naturally through the urine.
Surgical removal of kidney stones
- Ureteroscopy – Endoscopic Stone Removal from the Ureter
Stones located anywhere in the ureter can be removed using a ureteroscopy. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia. A thin instrument, approximately 4 mm in diameter, is inserted through the urethra into the bladder and then advanced into the ureter to reach the stone. The stone can be captured and removed using a small retrieval basket. Larger stones are first fragmented under direct vision using a laser device and then extracted. - Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
Kidney stones can be removed through a small puncture tract (5–10 mm) directly into the kidney. This procedure, called percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to remove large kidney stones.