What you can expect

Before the procedure

Before the procedure, your surgeon may have you go to the radiology department, where a radiologist will use CT, ultrasound or X-ray imaging to guide access to the kidney. This is done with a local anesthetic, meaning you will be awake but will not feel any pain. You will then be transferred to the operating room for the actual procedure.

Alternately, your surgeon may prefer to access the kidney in the operating room while you are under general anesthesia. In this case, the surgeon will put a tube through your bladder and up into your kidney, and will use X-ray imaging to make a puncture in your kidney so that the stones can be removed. If you have very large stones, the surgeon may need to make more than one puncture.

During the procedure

When the doctor has access to the kidney stones, he or she will place a sheath into the kidney and break up the stones using a special instrument. When the fragments are small enough, the doctor will remove them. When the procedure is complete, the surgeon may leave drainage tubes in the kidney.

Your doctor may send the kidney stone fragments to be analyzed or to check for infection.

After the procedure

You may stay in the hospital for one or two days after the procedure. Your doctor will recommend that you avoid heavy lifting, and pushing or pulling for two to four weeks. You may be able to return to work after a week.

If the doctor has left drainage tubes in the kidney, you'll need to watch for any bleeding. If you notice thick, ketchup-like blood or blood clots in your urine or drainage tube, go to the emergency department.

If you develop a fever or chills, contact your doctor. These could be signs and symptoms of infection. Your doctor will probably take urine and blood tests and X-rays and then send you to the emergency department. If you have significant pain that is not relieved by your prescribed pain medicine, contact your doctor.