Ways To Treat And Prevent Kidney Stones

4. Ureteroscopy

Kidney stones that can’t pass naturally may be treated using ureteroscopy. With this procedure, a ureteroscope, which is a small telescope, is inserted through the urethra and bladder, and into the ureter up to the point where the kidney stones are found. If the stones are small enough, they may be snared using a basket device and removed intact. But if the stones are too large, they may be broken up into small fragments using a laser before being removed. The patient is usually put under general anesthesia for this procedure, which may last somewhere between one and three hours. It is most often an outpatient procedure, though an overnight stay at the hospital might be required for more difficult cases.