A urologist might use this procedure to diagnose problems going on in the urinary tract and to solve them. Most frequently, ureteroscopy is used to remove stones both in the ureter and the in the kidney itself. The doctor finds the stone with the scope and then takes it out with a wire basket or forceps. Other kinds of treatments may be utilized for stones in the kidney depending on the size of the stone being treated. However, exciting changes in technology are making it possible for doctors to more often use minimally invasive techniques such as ureteroscopy to treat ever larger kidney stones.
Most patients are able to have ureteroscopy. Occasionally ureteroscopy may not be possible if a man has a very enlarged prostate. Talk to your doctor about whether this procedure or another treatment method would be best for your situation.
When the ureteroscopy is complete, you might feel burning when you urinate for a few hours and notice blood in the urine for up to three days. You should also beware of potential risks associated with this procedure. Ureteroscopy can cause ureteral injury, bleeding, urinary tract infections, and abdominal pain. However, these risks are quite low and ureteroscopy has evolved over the last 20 years and has proven to be a very safe and effective way to treat stones in the urinary tract. In general, this is an outpatient procedure that allows you to go home soon after it’s completed, but depending on the complexity of the case, there are times when you might need to stay for up to 48 hours. If a patient suspects kidney stones, they should make an appointment for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. If you think you have a kidney stone call our offices to find out more about kidney stone disease and potential treatments.