Kidney stones

Alternative Names

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent further symptoms. (Kidney stones usually pass on their own.) Treatment varies depending on the type of stone and how severe the symptoms are. People with severe symptoms might need to be hospitalized.

When the stone passes, the urine should be strained and the stone saved and tested to determine the type.

Drink at least 6 - 8 glasses of water per day to produce a large amount of urine. Some people might need to get fluids through a vein (intravenous).

Pain relievers can help control the pain of passing the stones (renal colic). For severe pain, you may need to take narcotic analgesics.

Depending on the type of stone, your doctor may prescribe medicine to decrease stone formation and/or help break down and remove the material that is causing the stone. Medications can include:

• Allopurinol (for uric acid stones)
• Antibiotics (for struvite stones)
• Diuretics
• Phosphate solutions
• Sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate (which make the urine more alkaline)

Stones that don't pass on their own might need to be removed with surgery. Lithotripsy may be an alternative to surgery. It uses ultrasonic waves or shock waves to break up stones. Then the stones can either exit the body in the urine (extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy) or be removed with an endoscope that is inserted into the kidney via a small opening (percutaneous nephrolithotomy).

You may need to change your diet to prevent some types of stones from coming back.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Kidney stones are painful but usually can be removed from the body without causing permanent damage. They tend to return, especially if the cause is not found and treated.

Possible Complications

• Decrease or loss of function in the affected kidney
• Kidney damage, scarring
• Obstruction of the ureter (acute unilateral obstructive uropathy)
• Recurrence of stones
• Urinary tract infection

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of a kidney stone.

Also call if symptoms return, urination becomes painful, urine output decreases, or other new symptoms develop.