PCNL is optimal for larger stones, or with overweight patients. Like many procedures, PCNL requires the patient to have a general anesthetic. The surgeon makes a tiny hole in the patient’s back and inserts a very thin tool. They pass this instrument through the hole into the kidney and try to extract the stone or break it up. They try to this using a laser beam. The procedure has a very high success rate for kidney stones as big as one inch in diameter or even a little larger.

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