Kidney stone laser surgery may be an option for patients needing surgical treatment for urological stone disease. At Melbourne Urology Centre, our specialist urologists are highly experienced in the treatment of kidney stone disease. Dr Shekib Shahbaz and Dr Tony de Sousa use state of the art holmium laser and ‘Moses’ technology, which enables them to perform stone fragmentation very safely and effectively.
What is kidney stone laser surgery?
Kidney stone laser surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed for the treatment of kidney stones.
Kidney stone laser surgery involves using a laser device to direct energy towards the stones, breaking them up into smaller fragments that can then either be passed out through the urine, or removed by the surgeon during the procedure using specialised tools.
Kidney stone laser surgery is usually performed during at the same time as a ureteroscopy procedure. This allows the surgeon to have a clear view of the urinary tract during the surgery.
Who is kidney stone laser surgery suitable for?
Kidney stone laser surgery may be a suitable option for patients with kidney stones that are causing pain or other symptoms.
Initially, most kidney stones do not cause painful symptoms, in fact sometimes they are discovered incidentally on an x-ray or CT scan. However, if they are left untreated they can cause severe pain and blockage of the urinary tract.
Kidney stone laser surgery may be indicated in patients who have symptomatic and non-symptomatic kidney stone disease. Some symptoms of kidney stone disease can include:
- Pain in the back or flank
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Blood in the urine
The surgeon will take a number of factors into consideration when determining a patient’s suitability for kidney stone laser surgery. Factors such as the number, overall size and shape of the stones that are present and their location within the urinary tract are important. Whether or not the kidney stones are causing any symptoms is also important, as well as the health of the kidney and the overall health of the patient.
In some cases if the stone or stones are very large, or if the patient has abnormal kidney anatomy, kidney stone laser surgery might not be deemed as an appropriate treatment option. In these instances, the surgeons at Melbourne Urology Centre will be able to make alternative treatment recommendations for resolving the kidney stones.
What are the advantages of having kidney stone laser surgery?
One of the main advantages of kidney stone laser surgery is that is minimally invasive, that is, it does not require any incisions to be made. Patients are generally discharged on the same day as the procedure, so that they may return to their normal daily activities sooner than they would be able to with traditional ‘open’ surgery (via an incision) or a procedure such as a percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).
Kidney stone laser surgery allows the surgeon to examine the urinary tract very clearly through the ureteroscope, when performing the procedure. The ‘Moses’ technology allows for the vast majority of kidney stones of all shapes and sizes to be broken effectively.
How is kidney stone laser surgery performed?
Kidney stone laser surgery is performed under full general anaesthetic. The procedure usually takes around an hour to complete.
During the kidney stone laser surgery, a small instrument with a camera (ureteroscope) is inserted into the urethra and passed into the bladder, then through to the ureter and into the kidney. Once the stone is located, a holmium laser and ‘Moses’ technology are used to fragment the stone. Larger fragments are removed by the surgeon using small, specialised instruments through the ureteroscope. Any smaller fragments are usually able to be passed through in the urine. In some instances, the surgeon may place a small temporary rubber tube (called a stent) between the kidney and ureter. This assists with healing and allows stone fragments to pass through the urinary tract more easily.
What should a patient expect following kidney stone laser surgery?
Most patients are able to go home on the same day following kidney stone laser surgery.
- Normal, light activities can usually be resumed after a few days following the kidney stone laser surgery
- If the surgeon has placed a stent, the patient will need to return to have it removed (usually about a week following surgery).
- There may be some blood present in the urine, and a frequent urgency to urinate in the days following kidney stone laser surgery
- Drinking lots of water helps with flushing the stone fragments out through the urine.
What are the expected patient outcomes of kidney stone laser surgery?
Some discomfort or dull pain in the bladder or flank area is to be expected following kidney stone laser surgery. This usually resolves over a couple of days. The ‘Moses’ technology allows most patients to be treated with just the one surgical procedure.
Melbourne Urology Centre- Kidney stone laser surgery Melbourne
The specialist urologists at Melbourne Urology Centre are highly experienced in performing kidney stone laser surgery. Dr Shekib Shahbaz and Dr Tony de Sousa and their team are dedicated to providing all of their patients with the highest quality, individualized, patient-focused care. Both urologists consult and operate at a number of private hospitals throughout Victoria, allowing patients to be treated as close to home as possible.
Melbourne Urology Centre offers patients safe, fast and effective treatments for kidney stones, including kidney stone laser surgery.
If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our urological surgeons to discuss your suitability for undergoing kidney stone laser surgery in Melbourne, please contact our rooms on 1300 702 811 to make an appointment.