Condition overview
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidney when minerals collect in urine. A stone may stay in the kidney or move into the ureter, which is the tube that carries urine to the bladder.
Small stones may pass with medicines and monitoring. Larger stones, blocked stones, infected stones, and repeated stones need proper urology care.
Symptoms
Common symptoms include sharp pain in the side, back, lower abdomen, or groin. You may also notice burning urine, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, fever, or repeated urinary infections.
Some small stones cause no symptoms. They may be found during ultrasound, CT scan, or a routine health check.
When to consult a urologist
Consult a urologist if pain is severe, pain keeps coming back, urine is blocked, fever is present, blood appears in urine, or a scan shows a stone.
Urgent care is needed if stone pain comes with fever, chills, vomiting, weakness, or reduced urine.
Diagnosis and tests
Tests may include urine test, blood test, ultrasound, X-ray KUB, CT KUB, kidney function test, urine culture, and stone analysis when a stone is passed or removed.
The aim is to know stone size, stone location, kidney swelling, infection risk, and kidney function.
When to consult
Do your symptoms need stone review?
What are you feeling?
This checklist helps organize symptoms. It does not replace a urology consultation.
Diagnosis and tests
Kidney stone care, step by step
Consultation
Review pain and reports
Dr. Vikram reviews symptoms, scan reports, urine reports, medicines, and previous stone history.
- Bring CT, ultrasound, X-ray, urine, and blood reports
- Share fever, vomiting, or severe pain episodes
- Tell the doctor about past stone treatment
Treatment options
Treatment options for kidney stones
Treatment depends on stone size, stone location, pain, infection risk, kidney swelling, and kidney function.
Common procedures include URS for ureter stones, RIRS for selected kidney stones, PCNL or mini PCNL for larger stones, ECNL for very large or complex stones, and laparoscopic surgery in special cases.
Common procedures
Dr. Vikram explains the difference between URS, RIRS, PCNL, ECNL, stenting, and laparoscopic surgery in simple language.
"The goal is stone clearance, pain relief, and prevention of the next stone."
Dr. Vikram · Urologist, Robotic Surgeon
Recovery and follow-up
Before, during, and after stone treatment
Good stone care includes safe treatment and a prevention plan.
- Bring all scans and reports
- Share fever, vomiting, or severe pain history
- Tell the doctor about medicines and allergies
- Ask which procedure is planned
- Follow fasting instructions if surgery is planned
- Arrange help for discharge
Your plan will depend on stone size, location, infection risk, kidney function, and overall health.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Some small stones can pass with medicines, fluids, and monitoring. Larger, stuck, infected, or painful stones may need a procedure.
URS is ureteroscopy. A thin scope is passed through the urine passage to treat a stone in the ureter.
RIRS is retrograde intrarenal surgery. A flexible scope is used to reach selected kidney stones and break them with laser.
PCNL treats larger kidney stones through a small back opening. ECNL may be used for very large or complex stones.
No. Most stones do not need laparoscopic surgery. It may be used in selected complex cases.
Prevention may include more fluids, diet changes, stone analysis, urine tests, and follow-up based on your stone type.