Kidney stone surgery is a considerable serious option. Almost 95% of the kidney stone cases do not undergo surgery and will pass only though pill prescriptions and with a dedicated kidney stone diet. Majority of the sizes of these offending pebbles are 5mm in measurement. These sizes can go without remedial surgery.

However in cases that these stones are bigger that 10mm or larger than half of an inch, these cases require going through kidney stone surgery. It is medically reported that kidney stones can grow as big as the size of a golf ball. Big stones usually remain in the kidney for longer periods without notice but it will surely create damage to the kidney.

How Kidney Stone Surgery is Done:

To remove the stones in an open surgery, the surgeon makes a cut in the victim's abdomen or at the side to get through the kidney and remove the stone. To get rid of the stone, the surgeon actually opens up the kidney and physically takes the stones off. Placing a small tube or catheter near the kidney is done after the removal of the stone to drain urine until the kidney heals.

Medical Procedures before Surgery:

Generally, like all other surgeries, a patient will have to go through several laboratory examinations to determine stabilization of the system.

Complete lab tests to be performed will include a complete kidney diagnosis, blood screens, 24-hour urine samples, calcium loading tests, stone analysis to know the type of stone, and all the other preliminary general tests

After Surgery Effects:

The resulting scar from the surgery can vary from 6 to 10 inches in length. An individual who has undergone the process usually stays confined in a hospital bed for a duration of 6 to 10 days. Healing and ultimate recovery will run from four to six weeks.

Reason for Kidney Stone Surgery:

As was mentioned previously, kidney stone surgery happens very rarely. Only in occasional cases like the following, require a physical kidney stone surgery:

1. Patient has a large stone resulting from another complication or disease.

2. An inborn abnormality influenced the urinary system and the flow of urine to the bladder and the kidneys.

3. A failure of other known methods and medical procedures in dissolving or getting rid of the stone took place.

Possible Side-Effects of Kidney Stone Surgery:

Like other open-wound surgeries, kidney stone surgery also poses some risks to the patient. Some known negative effects are continuous bleeding, risk of infections due to unsanitary surgery equipment and danger associated with wrong administration of anesthesia.

There might also be a potential risk that the kidney could be irreparably damaged by the surgery thus making it unable to function properly. In severe cases, it may even lead to total removal of the said organ.

Alternative Methods of Kidney Stone Surgery

Quite a few alternative methods of kidney stone surgery today require surgical incisions to remove kidney stones. Some of these methods and techniques are:

Ureteroscopy: In this procedure, the surgeon or urologist will do away with cuts. This is done by inserting a thin viewing instrument called ureteroscope into the urethra, passing through the bladder, and then to the ureter to reach the kidney region, locate the stone and take it off.

Using of Laser, by going through the same path to reach the kidney, which will vaporize the stone in order to eliminate it.

Another method is to get in to the kidney through a small hole at the back of the patient and penetrating the kidney to remove the stone.

Lithoclast - this method utilizes air pressure to vibrate and break the stone. The pieces are manually picked with the use of forceps or suctioned out with water.

However, it is not necessary to undergo kidney stone surgery unless you are in the condition of being at risk of a breakdown in your system.