Minimally Invasive Surgery for Complicated Cases
When appropriate, kidney stones can be removed through several small incisions using robotic surgery or laparoscopically. These procedures are reserved for patients with complex kidney stones in locations that are difficult to reach with a scope. Our urologists helped develop these techniques, now considered the standard for surgical kidney stone removal.
Large Kidney Stone Removal
Larger kidney stones -- about the size of a marble, or larger -- may require a procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy. During this inpatient surgery, your surgeon inserts a tube with a camera at the end through a small incision in your back. Your surgeon uses the camera to view the kidney stone. A special instrument delivers pulses to break up the kidney stone into smaller pieces, which are then captured and removed. The procedure typically requires an overnight hospital stay.