Stone Extraction

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Just goes to show that even nurses don't know everything.......

I've got several large kidney stones stuck in the renal parenchyma bilaterally; one of them measures 12 mm, another is 10mm and the other is 9mm. Of course, these are NOT going to pass on their own, and I know some form of surgery is in my not-too-distant future. The last time I went through this, the stones weren't quite as large, and neither was in the kidney itself......one was lodged in the neck of the bladder (can anyone say OUCH? ) and the other was at the top of the ureter. These were quite effectively dealt with via ureteroscopy and Holmium laser lithotripsy, although the stents they left in after the procedure caused me a horrid amount of bleeding and pain.

Now, four years later, I'm faced with the damned things again, and what I need to know is, given their size and location, what should I expect to be done about these stones? Will they be able to get at them with the ureteroscope, or will percutaneous nephrostomy be required this time? And if so, is it a day surgery, or should I plan to stay in the hospital for a day or so? My concern being, I won't get to see my urologist until April 11th, and I need to have an idea of how long I'll be off work.......the last time, it took me over a week to start feeling like myself, and I'm really worried that I'm in for a rough time here.

~sigh~I've had just about enough of being sick this year, and it's only March.......oh well, it could be worse, right?

Thanks!

[suzanne4, RN]

I have seen radiologists go after some that size, too. It will depend on how aggressive that they want to be. Most of the patients stay in the hospital at least overnight for IV antibiotics, whether treated in the OR or in radiology.

Sorry for all of the "yucky" things that you have had happen.........and it is only the third month of the year............. :kiss

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

I had a friend go through the same thing - very large stones lodged in the kidneys. They had to go in through the kidneys, I believe they used temporary nephrostomy tubes. She was in the hospital for about four days.

BTW, I had stones too, in my ureters, that they removed with a scope at an outpatient center. I was under conscious sedation, and the procedure itself was a piece of cake. It was those STENTS though, like you said! OMG it looked like peeing cherry Kool-Aid for the first day, and so much pain! I had to remove them MYSELF and had no idea they were 12 inches long. He told me it would be just like removing a tampon - just pull on the string.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Thanks to both of you.

I forgot to mention that having the stents in felt like twin blowtorches were roaring up my back everytime I went to the bathroom.....I am SOOO not looking forward to having THAT experience again. This time, I'd better get some really good pain meds....Vicodin 5/500 just didn't cut it!!