What is the safest way to treat kidney stones?

Question
Hello doctor,
I have kidney stones for many years. In 2005, the kidney had to be operated on to remove stones, so it was atrophied, grade 1 water retention. The lower left calyx kidney had stones 13x31mm and 4x18mm, grade 2 fluid retention. Please advise the safest method to treat kidney stones? Best regards!
Nguyen Thi Nu (1964)
Answer
Answered by Doctor Hoang Tho - Urologist - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Times City International Hospital
Hello,
To the question “ Phuong” What is the safest way to treat kidney stones? ", the doctor would like to answer as follows:
With your condition as you described, it is very dangerous. The right kidney has atrophy complications after surgery, only 1 left kidney is alive, but that kidney now has very large stones. The lower left calyx kidney has 13x31mm and 4x18mm stones, grade 2 water retention needs early intervention. The safest method is endoscopic percutaneous lithotripsy with a small tunnel.
Endoscopy percutaneous nephrolithiasis is a special endoscopic method for the treatment of kidney stones and ureteral stones with high efficiency. The patient will be under general anesthesia, then the surgeon will insert a needle through the skin of the back into the kidney.
The tunnel of the puncture needle will be enlarged with a dilator to achieve the desired size, thereby allowing the insertion of the endoscope and the use of laser energy for lithotripsy. The gravel will be crushed to pieces and at the same time sucked out. Then, also through the tunnel, the doctor placed a kidney catheter to help with the post-operative examination. This catheter will be removed after 24-48 hours.
If you still have questions about kidney stones, you can go to a hospital under Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wish you a lot of health.
Best regards!