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Kidney
Stones
DEFINITION:
A kidney stone is a concretion generally ranging in size from
as small as a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball, produced
from the combination of urinary organic matter and mineral
deposition. These concretions can grow to a size so large
that the passage for urine within the urinary tract is blocked.
People with kidney stones often have abdominal or back pain
that can either be sharp and severe or dull in nature. Urinary
tract infections or blood in the urine can also be present.
Kidney stone disease, a painful condition, can usually be
easily treated with minimally invasive techniques.
TREATMENTS
Kidney stones can be treated with various minimally invasive
procedures depending on the size and location of the stone.
Shock wave Lithrotripsy at Mount Sinai's Extracorporeal Shock
Wave Lithotripsy Facility is a process of stone fragmentation
whereby a high-energy shock wave generated by a high-voltage
energy source fragments the kidney stone into particles which
are passed in the urine. Minimally invasive surgery techniques
enable surgeons to use instruments either through a tract
which goes from the back into the kidney (percutaneous procedure),
or through a tract from the urethra and bladder to the ureter
and kidney (ureteroscopic procedure), to fragment the stone
or remove it entirely. Minimally invasive procedures utilize
lasers and ultrasound. Other modalities can also be used for
stone fragmentation.
BENEFITS Lithotripsy is a minimally
invasive procedure which results in minimized risks and allows
most patients to be treated on an outpatient basis. If hospital
stays are required, they are generally brief. In the case
of minimally invasive surgery, risks are minimized and patients
recuperate more quickly resulting in shorter hospitals stays
than ever before. Since laser technology has advanced, much
smaller telescopes can be utilized which cause less trauma.
Therefore, patients often can get laser procedures on an outpatient
basis.
FIND
A DOCTOR This surgery is performed by the following
physician(s). Click on a name for a complete profile and contact
information.
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