Kidney stones occur when minerals and salts from your body collect in your kidneys, forming solid, pebble-like crystals. While kidney stones have many causes, they typically don’t have long-term effects on your body.
You may have a kidney stone if you have symptoms like:
- Changes in urination
- Foul-smelling urine
- Pain in your side and lower back
- Pain when you urinate
- Pink, red, or brown urine
Expert urologists at University of Miami Health System offer the latest approaches to treat kidney stones and prevent them from recurring.
Treatments
Medicines
Your doctor may prescribe medicines to relieve the pain of kidney stones or help you pass kidney stones through your urine more easily. Medicines work best for small kidney stones.
Fluids
If you have small kidney stones, you may be able to pass them at home by drinking lots of water.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)
This noninvasive technique uses sound waves to break up kidney stones into smaller pieces so they’re easier to pass.
Surgery
Your urologist can remove kidney stones using minimally invasive surgery, which requires only a small incision in your back. Your doctor uses specialized tools to remove the kidney stones.
Ureteroscopic Stone Removal
During this procedure, your urologist inserts a ureteroscope (a thin tube with a tiny lens) through your urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body) and into your kidney. Your urologist may either break up the stone into smaller pieces so it can pass through your urine or remove the pieces through the ureteroscope.
Tests
Urine Tests
Your doctor may take a sample of your urine to look for high concentrations of minerals that may be related to kidney stones.
Blood Tests
A blood test can reveal if your kidneys are functioning well. If your kidneys aren’t working properly, it can cause uric acid or other substances to build up in your blood.
Ultrasound
Your doctor may use ultrasound to look for kidney stones. Ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of your kidneys.
X-rays
Your doctor may take an X-ray of your kidneys to look for kidney stones.
Analysis of Kidney Stones
Your doctor may examine your kidney stones when you pass them to find out what caused them. This allows us to develop a plan to prevent kidney stones from coming back.
Why Choose UHealth?
Innovative, expert urology care at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. Our team of urology experts delivers advanced care for all urologic conditions. We use the latest research and the least invasive procedures to help you feel better and recover more quickly. Our experienced urologists design a personalized treatment plan to give you the best possible results.
Leaders in robotic surgery treatment. We have some of the world’s most experienced robotic surgeons for urologic procedures. In fact, doctors come from all over the world to learn from our expertise. The University of Miami was the first academic medical center to get the da Vinci® Xi robotic surgery system and complete more than 5,000 robotic surgeries — procedures that offer less pain and scarring and a faster recovery.
World-class care in an academic health system. We’re recognized by the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases as a Center of Excellence and a leader in treating kidney conditions. Backed by one of the nation’s top universities, our team uses the latest technologies and research-driven expertise to provide you with superior, personalized care and the latest treatment options.
Leaders in robotic surgery treatment. We have some of the world’s most experienced robotic surgeons for urologic procedures. In fact, doctors come from all over the world to learn at our Urology Robotic Program — the #1 ranked program in South Florida. The University of Miami Health System was the first academic medical center in the world to get the da Vinci® Xi robotic surgery system and has completed more than 5,000 robotic surgeries — procedures that offer less pain and scarring and a faster recovery.
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