Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, Opens dialog

Treatment Overview

This procedure is used to remove kidney stones.

The doctor makes a small incision in your back. The doctor then puts a hollow tube into your kidney and a probe through the tube.

• In nephrolithotomy (Figure 1), the doctor removes the stone through the tube.
• In nephrolithotripsy, the doctor breaks the stone up and then removes the fragments of the stone through the tube.

You need either general anesthesia or regional or spinal anesthesia during this procedure. A small tube (catheter) may be inserted into the kidney to drain urine until the kidney heals.

Figure 1 - Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy and nephrolithotripsy are procedures in which a small incision is made in a person's back to remove kidney stones. In both cases, the doctor puts a tube into the kidney and a scope through the tube. In nephrolithotomy, the doctor removes a stone through the tube. In nephrolithotripsy, the stone is broken up and the fragments of the stone are removed through the tube.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
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