There are many different type of kidney stones treatment, some kidney stones patient may use herb, and others use homeopathic or even chemical medicine. Kidney stones treatment commonly split in two major treatments, natural treatment and medical treatment. Natural treatment is the most recommendable treatment as it friendlier and less side affects than chemical base medicine. But still, natural treatment mostly only fit for precaution step or use as preventing action than definite curing. Especially in case when kidney stones already grew to massive stone and need faster solve, in this case most urologist would suggesting a surgery.
In medical references, kidney stones surgery can classify into five different types, there are Ureteroscopy, Lithotripsy (split up into another three types), Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy (PCN), Ureteroscopic Stone Removal and Open Surgery. These medical treatments are taken in case when kidney stones does not move through the ureter within 30 days, which of course each treatment still depend on kidney stones case background, such us kidney stones position, the size and other related factor connected to the barrier.
Ureteroscopy
This procedure usually used to remove or break up kidney stones fragment located in the lower third of the ureter. This technique is using a fiberoptic instrument, resembling a long thin telescope, which is called ureteroscope. This instrument are inserted through the urethra and passed through the bladder to the kidney stones position. Once located, urologist will remove it with a tiny basket inserted through the ureteroscope, which called basket extraction or will breaks the stone with laser. Remain fragment will then passes from kidney stones patient after that.
Lithotripsy
For condition when the stone is remaining in kidney or upper ureter, this procedure is very effective. It uses a special instrument to break kidney stones into tiny pieces, which after that will pass naturally. But this procedure is not fit in condition when kidney stones are already to big, or for patient with other medical conditions. Lithotripsy are classify in to three different type:
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Ultrasonic lithotripsy
This treatment uses high frequency sound waves using an electronic device inserted into the ureter to break up the kidney stones, remain kidney stones fragments will passed naturally or removed surgically.
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Electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL)
This treatment is flexible, since it can be used to break stones anywhere in the urinary system. Using a flexible instrument to break up small stones with shock waves generated by electricity device. The instrument is positioned close to the stone through a flexible ureteroscope. Remain kidney stones fragments will pass by the patient. This EHL procedure requires general anaesthesia.
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Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
This treatment uses highly focused impulses projected from outside the body to pulverize kidney stones anywhere in the urinary system. As the result, kidney stones usually reduced to sand or into seed size, which will be passed easily while urinate. For large kidney stones cases, it may require several ESWL treatments. But this procedure should not implement for struvite kidney stones or kidney stones with over 1 inch in diameter, and for pregnant women, since it worried to harm the baby.
Mostly, kidney stones patients who used lithotripsy are given a sedative and general or local anaesthesia. The procedure may takes over an hour in general, and sometimes this procedure need more than one treatment for it final solution.
Continue at part two…
Compile and re-written based on release fromUrology Channel