Kidney Stone Treatment

Understanding Kidney Stones and Treatment Options

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys and can cause severe pain, infection, and urinary complications if left untreated. Symptoms often include:

• Intense flank or back pain
• Blood in urine
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty passing urine

Mr Khan’s specialist practice focuses on providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for all stone types and sises from small stones likely to pass naturally to large or complex stones requiring surgical intervention.

Modern endourology offers minimally invasive solutions with faster recovery times and lower complication rates compared to open surgery. Mr Khan remains at the forefront of these developments, participating regularly in national and international conferences to ensure his patients benefit from the latest evidence-based techniques.

Ureteroscopy and Laser Treatment for Kidney Stones

Ureteroscopy is one of the most effective minimally invasive treatments for stones located in the kidney or ureter. This advanced procedure involves passing a thin telescope (a ureteroscope) through the urinary tract to directly visualise and treat the stone.

Using holmium laser lithotripsy, Mr Khan gently fragments the stone into fine pieces that can either be removed or passed naturally in the urine.

Advantages of Ureteroscopy

• No incisions
  
• Day-case or short hospital stay
  
• Immediate symptom relief
  
• High stone-free success rates
  
• Safe for stones in all kidney locations

Mr Khan is highly skilled in rigid and flexible ureteroscopy, allowing precise access to all areas of the kidney, including hard-to-reach regions.

Holmium laser technology is extremely effective at breaking stones of all sises and compositions without damaging surrounding tissue, making this the gold-standard treatment for many patients.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

For stones larger than 2 cm or for complex “staghorn” stones, PCNL is the recommended treatment. This minimally invasive keyhole procedure involves creating a small tract through the skin directly into the kidney to access and remove large stones.

Mr Khan performs a high volume of PCNL procedures annually and has significant expertise managing even the most complex stone cases.

Benefits of PCNL

• Superior clearance rates for large stones
• Minimally invasive keyhole approach
• Short hospital stay (typically 2–3 days)
• Often achieves complete stone removal in a single procedure

Compared to traditional open surgery, PCNL offers reduced pain, smaller incisions, and faster recovery. Mr Khan’s meticulous surgical technique ensures optimal outcomes with low complication rates.

Expert Stent Removal and Management

Following kidney stone procedures, a temporary ureteric stent may be placed to maintain drainage and assist healing. While important, stents can sometimes cause discomfort.

Mr Khan has established dedicated stent clinics to provide fast, efficient, and comfortable stent management significantly reducing waiting times and improving patient experience.

Stent removal is a quick outpatient procedure, usually performed under local anaesthetic with minimal discomfort. For patients requiring longer-term stenting, Mr Khan offers careful monitoring and ongoing support to ensure continued comfort and kidney function.