Urinary stones - endoscopic treatment

What is urinary stone disease

Urinary stone disease is the formation of deposits (stones) in the urinary tract - most often in the kidneys, from where stones can travel into the ureter, block the outflow of urine and cause very severe pain known as renal colic.

The disease can also develop without symptoms. Left untreated, it leads to worsening complaints, kidney damage and severe, life-threatening infections (urosepsis).

Diagnosis

The basis is periodic preventive testing: blood and urine analysis and an ultrasound of the urinary tract. When stones are suspected, a precise diagnosis is in most cases made with a CT scan.

When to observe, when to operate

Small stones (below about 1 cm) that cause no symptoms usually only need observation. When a stone starts to move and causes symptoms, pharmacological treatment is used to ease its passage and relieve pain.

For large stones, or where there is a risk of serious complications, the treatment of choice is endoscopic surgery - performed through the natural urinary tract or through a small skin incision.

Techniques I perform

• RIRS (retrograde intrarenal surgery) - a flexible endoscope introduced through the urethra all the way to the kidney; the primary tool of minimally invasive kidney stone treatment.
• URS/URSL - endoscopy of the ureter with laser fragmentation of the stones found there.
• PCNL / miniPCNL - access to the kidney through a skin incision of about 1–2 cm; allows removal of large stones filling the interior of the kidney.
• ECIRS - a combination of the above methods in a single operation, performed simultaneously by two urologists; used for very extensive stone disease.

I use modern laser generators for stone fragmentation. The procedures are performed under general anaesthesia.

Recovery

Patients are usually discharged home the day after surgery and regain full fitness within a few days. Detailed recommendations are given individually.

Price of the treatment in Kraków

I qualify patients at my own practice and operate at Szpital na Klinach hospital. You will get the cost of the procedure directly from the hospital and during the qualification consultation; it depends on the size and position of the stone and on the technique used.

• Urology consultation - PLN 350, full ultrasound diagnostics included in the visit
• RIRS, URSL and PCNL - performed at Szpital na Klinach, priced after the qualification consultation
• Payment by cash, card, BLIK or bank transfer · invoice on request
• Private visits, not covered by the Polish NFZ

The full list is on the pricing page.

Where I qualify and operate

The qualification consultation takes place at my office: Andromeda Centrum Medyczne, ul. Mogilska 69A, 31-545 Kraków, Poland. The procedure itself - under general anaesthesia - is performed at Szpital na Klinach hospital in Kraków.