Ureteric Stone Removal Birmingham

Ureteric Stones Birmingham

Ureteroscopy for Diagnosis or Treatment of a Kidney Stone

This page tells you about the procedure known as Ureteroscopy and services to explain what is involved and what the possible outcomes and complications are. It is not meant to replace informed discussion between you and your consultant but can act as a starting point for such a discussion.
Ureteroscopy is likely to be a pre-planned operation and you should have plenty of time to discuss it with your consultant so you have sufficient explanation before you agree to the operation.

Treatments for Ureteric Stones

Why do I need this operation? What are the benefits?

Your surgeon would have explained to you why you require this procedure, which can either be used for diagnostic purposes, or for treating a kidney stone. If you have a kidney stone it may be in the ureter (the tube which drains urine from the kidney to the bladder) or in the kidney.
This operation is performed using either a long, thin, semi-rigid or flexible telescope. This is passed up the natural urinary passage (urethra) into the bladder and up to the stone or the problem in the ureter or kidney. The procedure requires a general anaesthetic with a hospital stay usually of 1 to 3 days. You may be able to go home the same day (this will depend on your individual circumstances and will be discussed with you by your consultant).

What can I expect before the operation?

You will be seen in a pre-assessment clinic a few days before the operation and have blood tests if needed. You will also be required to produce a fresh, mid-stream urine specimen
It is important to bring all your medication or a list of medication to the pre-assessment and inform the doctor about all or any new medical problems
It is important to bring all your medication or a list of medication to the pre-assessment and inform the doctor about all or any new medical problems
Please tell the doctor if you have any allergies to medication or allergy to the dye used to take special x-rays in the past
You might have a further x-ray of your abdomen on the day of the operation to check the latest position of your stone
If you are a woman of child bearing age it is important to let the doctor or the nurse know if there is any possibility of your being pregnant. If in doubt we will perform a pregnancy test. This is important to avoid radiation exposure to a baby in the womb during the procedure

How is the operation performed?

While you are under the general anaesthetic the consultant will examine your bladder with a long thin semi-rigid or flexible telescope and then pass a small guide wire up the ureter beyond the kidney stone. Sometimes it will be necessary to stretch the opening of the ureter into the bladder. The surgeon will then pass a long, thin, semi-rigid or flexible telescope up the ureter to the stone. If the kidney stone is small enough to be extracted intact it will be removed with a special basket. If however the stone needs to be broken up, this will be done using either a laser or a small vibrating probe. If fragments can then be removed they may be sent for analysis.

Sometimes it is necessary to leave a stent (this is a long thin plastic flexible tube which extends from kidney to the bladder) in the ureter if it has not been possible to fragment the stone or if the ureter looks inflamed. This will be left inside you temporarily and be taken out in a few weeks or left in until further treatment of the stone is necessary. The stent may cause pain, frequent desire and urgency to pass water or blood in your urine for a few days.

What can I expect after the operation?

You may have a catheter in your bladder to drain your urine. Your urine may be coloured with blood. The catheter will be removed once the consultants are satisfied with your progress
You may have an intravenous drip until you are able to drink and eat normally
You will usually be given antibiotics when you are anaesthetised and if needed post-operatively as well to prevent infection
You will be prescribed and given appropriate painkillers after the procedure

What are the alternatives?

If there are complications you may need a stent leaving in until your consultant has discussed further management with you or you may need an open procedure.

What are the risks of this operation?

(Problems and complications specific to this operation only are listed here. This does not cover every possible complication but covers the more common or serious. Complications may result from anaesthesia and should be discussed with your anaesthetist).

Failure to reach the stone, in which case a stent might be left in and the consultant will discuss further management at a later date unless an alternative procedure has been discussed with you beforehand
Damage to the ureter is uncommon and might lead to the need for a stent. Very rarely an open procedure to repair the damage may be necessary
Bleeding in the urine usually settles in a few days but can last for 2 or 3 weeks
Infection of the bladder is common although all patients are given antibiotics to minimise this risk. Some stones have bacteria trapped within them which are then released during the operation. Severe infection occurs in less than 1% of patients
Chest infections might arise if you are a smoker or if you have pre-existing breathing or chest problems. You need to inform the doctor if you have had any recent chest infections. It is important you stop smoking before the operation as this may reduce the risk of clots forming in your legs

After the Operation

Maintain a high fluid intake (4 – 6 pints per day) this will help clear the blood in your urine and flush out any stone fragments and reduce the risk of constipation
Try to get active as soon as possible after the operation to reduce the chances of pneumonia and clots in your legs
Do not drive until you feel able to make an emergency stop
You may see some blood in your urine up to 2 weeks after the operation. If this persists contact your GP or alternatively contact the urology ward to which you were admitted
If you develop high fever or chills contact the Urology ward to which you were admitted

What sort of follow up / after care will I get?

Depending on the outcome of your operation you will either be given an outpatients appointment or, if you require further treatment, the consultant will discuss this with you and schedule this appropriately.

It is important that you make a list of all medicines you are taking and bring it with you to all follow-up clinic appointments. If you have any questions at all, please ask your surgeon, or nurse. It may help to write down questions as you think of them so that you have them ready. It may also help to bring someone with you when you attend your outpatient appointments.

Urological Surgeon

Senior Consultant Urological Surgeon Working at Spire Little Aston Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham for last since 2005.

Graduated as a doctor in 1984 and have been working in the NHS for over 30 years. I started my Urology career in 1991 and completed training at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospital, Oxford in 2000.