Pyelolithotomy

Surgical Treatment of Kidney and Ureteric Stones

Surgery may be needed to remove a kidney stone if it

• does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain
• is too large to pass on its own or is caught in a difficult place
• blocks the flow of urine
• causes an ongoing urinary tract infection
• damages kidney tissue or causes constant bleeding
• has grown larger, as seen on follow-up imaging

Until 20 years ago, open surgery was necessary to remove a stone. The surgery required a recovery time of 4 to 6 weeks. Today, treatment for these stones is greatly improved, and many options do not require major open surgery and can be performed using minimally invasive techniques requiring only a few hours hospital stay.

Pyelolithotomy

This an minimally invasive operation performed laparoscopically (robotically assisted) in some limited cases where nothing else has succeeded to remove the stones or when a stone is due to the presence of the so called pelvic-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. This is done in order to remove the stricture of the PUJ – cause – and the stone –result – at the same operation. A ureteric stent in left in site for usually 3 weeks and the hospitalization is 2-3 days including the day of the procedure. Full recovery takes usually 5-7 days.