Laser treatment of nephrolithiasis

Nephrolithiasis is a widespread problem in human population. Patient from the developed countries as well as from not developed countries are affected, the difference is only in the methods of diagnosis and treatment.

In many cases there are no symptoms for a long period of time, often appearing with brutal pain in the flanks, blood in the urine, temperature, vomiting and other general symptoms. Sometimes it is mistaken with infarct, appendicitis, bilious pain and other serious stomach conditions.

The methods of diagnosis are usually accessible and specialists can timely tell the diagnose – concrement, stone in the kidney, ureter, bladder or even in the urethra.

For a long time the first methods for treatment and elimination of the stone are less invasive, i.e. non operative. Operation is done only in the complicated cases when other more sparing treatment can’t be done.

The laser treatment is minimum invasive treatment that allows you to go back home the same day. The treatment is provided with the help of endoscope (pipe that is entered into the body through the urinary tract) and laser that is made with the help of the chemical element Holmium which aims the stone.

A small fibre is twisting the endoscope in such a way that the top of it emanating the laser energy can reach the stone. The intense light energy breaks the stone in smaller parts that are taken away. The laser energy is not harming the neighbouring tissues which is a grate advantage in comparison with the outside stone breaking when the shock waves pass through all tissues and skin layers from the back’s skin in depth towards the stone.

Other big advantage is that the laser makes no shock waves, the energy that breaks the stone is transmitted by contact directly from the optic fibre. The waves are pointed towards the stone with the device for outside breaking according a calculation method and thus energy can not be only and exactly transferred on the stone, i.e. there is dispersion – the effectiveness of the breaking decreases, the time for the procedure is prolonged, the organ having stone is additionally traumatised.

With laser lithotripsy there is significantly smaller risk of complications compared to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (outside breaking of stones with device with shock waves). Breaking the stones with the help of holmium laser is characterised by high level of success and minimum risk of complications in all types of stones.

A specialist urologist will take the best decision for the appropriate method of your treatment and will examine all the information and conditions in order to solve the problem completely and painlessly.

Advantages

• Immediate relief;
• You are going back home the same day in most cases;
• Fast recovery, minimising complications;
• Effectiveness in all types of stone;
• Above 95% success of the treatment.