How to Pass a Kidney Stone Quickly

7. Surgical Procedures

In cases where a kidney stone is large, infection is present, or there is a urine blockage, doctors may recommend surgery. Many of the options available are minimally invasive with short recovery times. These include:

1. Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). This procedure uses shockwaves to blast the stone into passable smaller pieces.
2. Ureteroscopy (URS). A tiny telescope, called a ureteroscope, is passed into the bladder and through the ureter. Once the stone has been located, it can be pulled out of the patient or broken into smaller pieces.
3. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL). This is a surgical procedure used on large kidney stones. It requires a small incision in the back of the patient. An instrument is passed through a small scope that can break up the stone and suction out the pieces.