When is Laser Surgery Needed?
Laser surgery is most often prescribed for very small kidney stones averaging 5 mm in diameter or smaller. Though quite small, these kidney stones can still become caught in the ureter on their way to the bladder. Because they block the ureter, this can prevent urination. Typically, a course of excessive fluid consumption and pain relievers is prescribed, but if this does not get the kidney stone dislodged, laser surgery, specifically laser lithotripsy, is the next step.
How Laser Surgery for Kidney Stones Works
First, general anesthesia is administered and the patient is put to sleep. A small, camera is inserted up the length of the urethra, through the bladder and into the ureter. The camera, called a uteroscope, is used to locate the kidney stone. A small laser, as thin as a fiber-optic cable, is set alongside the uteroscope. The laser fires in a continuous stream, which is played over the surface of the kidney stone, breaking it into smaller fragments. The uteroscope is retracted, and the fragments are allowed to pass when the patient next urinates.
Dangers of Laser Lithotripsy
The procedure can induce excessive bleeding in the ureter and bladder. This is normally not dangerous, save in those patients who have trouble getting their blood to clot. Also, even though such procedures are carried out under sterile conditions, urinary tract infections can still result from laser lithotripsy. This can cause scarring along the internal walls of the ureter. This can cause difficulty in urination, which may require other surgical procedures to correct.
Tags: kidney stone, Laser Surgery, Kidney Stones, kidney stones, This cause