Kidney Stones
The kidneys perform a vital function of filtering harmful and unwanted substances from the body. This is in the form of minerals dissolved in water, which then passes along the ureters into the bladder.
Diseases affecting the kidneys include infection, tumours - both non-cancerous and cancerous, and stones (calculi). The specialty of Urology involves prevention, diagnosis and management of these conditions. Stones which are localised to the kidneys may be treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).
Stones which pass into the ureter may be treated with ESWL or if lower down, may be removed using ureteroscopy.
Occasionally stones in the kidney need to be removed with percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a method of passing a telescope-type instrument through the patient's back and into the kidney and on other occasions open operative surgery is carried out. Tumours of the kidney may need to be removed. Generally speaking, the entire kidney is removed to completely clear cancerous tumours.
