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Suggest Treatment For Ureteric Stones
Question: What can be done to treat ureteric stones
Brief Answer:
Would depend on size and location
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I wish you had provided more specifications, but broadly the treatment of most ureteric stones would depend on their location and size and the symptoms they are causing.
Most stones are less than 5-6mm in size, and provided they are not causing intense obstruction, and there is no infection, we can wait and see if they spontaneously pass on their own. Stones larger than 10mm quite often require urologists' intervention in the operation room under anaesthesia.
If the stones are not too large, we can help them get expelled by means of medicines to open up the passage, like Flomax and also alkalinize the urine to reduce the discomfort.
Stones in the lower ureter are more likely to pass spontaneously than those stuck in upper ureter.
If such a trial of MET as we call it ( Medical Expulsive Therapy) fails, or if the patient is very symptomatic with severe pain and/or fever or if there is something inherently wrong with the kidneys of a patient, we have the option of passing a fine endoscope into the ureter (URSL - Ureteroscopy Lithoptripsy) and fragmenting the stone using laser and basketing and retrieving the fragments following which we can place a stent into the ureter which will further open the passage up thereby minimizing the risk of post -procedure cramping pain.
Hope I have been able to help you.
Regards.
Would depend on size and location
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I wish you had provided more specifications, but broadly the treatment of most ureteric stones would depend on their location and size and the symptoms they are causing.
Most stones are less than 5-6mm in size, and provided they are not causing intense obstruction, and there is no infection, we can wait and see if they spontaneously pass on their own. Stones larger than 10mm quite often require urologists' intervention in the operation room under anaesthesia.
If the stones are not too large, we can help them get expelled by means of medicines to open up the passage, like Flomax and also alkalinize the urine to reduce the discomfort.
Stones in the lower ureter are more likely to pass spontaneously than those stuck in upper ureter.
If such a trial of MET as we call it ( Medical Expulsive Therapy) fails, or if the patient is very symptomatic with severe pain and/or fever or if there is something inherently wrong with the kidneys of a patient, we have the option of passing a fine endoscope into the ureter (URSL - Ureteroscopy Lithoptripsy) and fragmenting the stone using laser and basketing and retrieving the fragments following which we can place a stent into the ureter which will further open the passage up thereby minimizing the risk of post -procedure cramping pain.
Hope I have been able to help you.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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