Kidney Stone Fragmentation (Lithotripsy) in Kyiv — by Laser and Ultrasound

Kidney stones and urinary system stones form due to the accumulation of salts and minerals in urine. Causes of kidney stones can be different:

• Metabolic disorders;
• Improper nutrition (excess salt, protein, carbonated drinks) and alcohol abuse;
• Sedentary lifestyle;
• Unfavorable working conditions;
• Hereditary predisposition;
• Dehydration and lack of clean water.

Many patients ask: “What causes kidney stones?” — most often it is a combination of several risk factors. According to our urologists’ observations, 40% of men and women aged 25–55 have stones, often up to 20 mm in diameter.

Symptoms of kidney stones depend on their size and location. Sometimes they do not manifest for a long time, but sooner or later the first signs appear. The main signs of kidney stones:

• Constant or intermittent pain in the kidney area, “stabbing pain” in the kidneys;
• Partial or complete difficulty urinating and passing gas;
• Deterioration of well-being, chills, weakness, and temperature 37–37.5 ℃;
• Nausea and vomiting, urine with blood, urine with sediment, and abnormal foul odor.

How to understand that there are kidney stones? Even a small stone can move into the ureter, causing renal colic — a sharp attack of pain. Therefore, with any suspicion, it is important to consult a urologist. At New Life Clinic, modern methods of diagnostics and kidney stone fragmentation in Kyiv are available.

Even small kidney stones, without any painful sensations, should not be ignored as “just small stones”… First, a stone in the kidney grows like a pearl in a shell, so the manifestation of pathology is only a matter of time. Second, small stones, due to fast driving, shaking, abundant fluid intake, or diuretic products or medications, migrate into the ureters and get stuck. If kidney stones are not treated, serious consequences are possible — hydronephrosis, loss of kidney function, chronic infections, and even the need for surgery.

To avoid complications, it is important to undergo diagnostics in time and choose a treatment method. Our urologists will select the optimal removal method, including laser lithotripsy and ultrasound stone fragmentation.

Kidney stones may remain asymptomatic for a long time. Sizes vary from several millimeters to several centimeters. Kidney lithotripsy is most often performed using the extracorporeal shock wave method (ultrasound), which allows effective destruction of stones of different sizes without surgical intervention.

Stones in the ureter usually come from the kidney. Due to the narrow diameter of the channel, even small stones can block urine flow, causing acute pain. Ureteral lithotripsy usually involves endoscopic or extracorporeal methods depending on the stone’s location and size.

Bladder stones often form due to urinary stagnation. They are usually larger than ureteral stones and can cause pain, frequent urges, and infections. Stone fragmentation relieves discomfort and restores normal urination. Bladder lithotripsy most often requires an endoscopic method without incisions.

Extracorporeal (non-contact) lithotripsy of the kidneys, ureter, or other organs is a modern minimally invasive method of treating urolithiasis, in which stones in the kidneys, bladder, and ureter are fragmented without any surgical intervention at all. Extracorporeal non-contact lithotripsy is performed under local anesthesia. Fragmentation is carried out on an outpatient basis — hospitalization is not required.

Lithotripter equipment generates an acoustic wave outside the patient’s body, which is focused directly on the concretion (stone) located in the kidney, ureter, or bladder. The exposure zone includes the stone itself and up to 5 mm of surrounding tissue. Within this zone, the stone is destroyed while tissue damage is minimal.

Features:

• Stone fragmentation without any intervention,
• Stones in the kidneys up to 20 mm and stones in the ureter up to 10 mm are the maximum sizes for which this method is the optimal choice for urolithiasis treatment,
• Short recovery period (6–8 hours),
• The cost of ultrasound stone fragmentation is lower than other methods.

Ureteroscopy is a procedure in which a thin probe (ureteroscope) is inserted into the bladder and then into the ureter. For ureteral stones, ureteroscopy allows the urologist to examine the ureter, locate the stone, and remove it. The ureteroscope can be rigid or flexible and allows the urologist to move up the ureter to the stone and see it on a video monitor through fiber optics. Contact lithotripsy is performed under anesthesia. The type is selected by the anesthesiologist depending on the patient’s age and condition.

Ureteroscopic lithotripsy has become the method of choice for treating ureteral stones due to its safety and effectiveness. Endoscopic lithotripsy involves visualizing the stone in the urinary tract and simultaneously applying energy to fragment the stone(s) into small pieces and sand for natural elimination.

Features:

• Stone fragmentation without surgical intervention,
• Practically no restrictions on stone size or density,
• Average recovery period (3–5 days),
• Possibility of performing contact lithotripsy in pregnant women.

Laser kidney stone fragmentation in Kyiv is a method of treating urolithiasis that uses laser radiation to destroy or fragment stones in the kidneys, bladder, or ureters. The procedure allows directing the laser beam precisely at the stone, which promotes effective destruction or size reduction, and enables simultaneous removal of stones, providing rapid unblocking of the upper urinary tract.

Holmium laser currently remains one of the most popular tools in urological procedures, including lithotripsy. Laser kidney stone fragmentation allows effective fragmentation of urinary stones regardless of their size, hardness, chemical composition, or physical consistency; consequently, a high level of stone removal can be achieved.

Features:

• Stone fragmentation without surgical intervention,
• Practically no restrictions on stone size or density,
• Average recovery period (3–5 days),
• Possibility of performing contact lithotripsy in pregnant women.

Laser lithotripsy in Kyiv is performed using a modern holmium laser. It is a minimally invasive procedure in which the doctor, using a ureteroscope, brings a thin probe directly to the stone. The laser beam breaks it into tiny particles — literally into dust, which is safely excreted naturally.

At New Life Clinic, the contact laser lithotripsy technique is used, allowing precise impact on the stone in the kidney, ureter, or bladder without damaging surrounding tissues. The procedure takes 30–60 minutes and is performed under anesthesia.

Unlike ultrasound and extracorporeal shock wave therapy, laser kidney stone fragmentation in Kyiv is suitable for stones of any size and density. Main advantages:

• Effectiveness for complex and hard stones;
• Minimal risk of mucosal damage;
• Possibility to completely remove the stone in one session;
• Short recovery period (patients return to normal life in 2–3 days).

Therefore, contact lithotripsy using a holmium laser is considered the “gold standard” for treating urolithiasis.

The method is used not only for kidneys. Laser ureter lithotripsy in Kyiv allows careful removal of a stuck stone causing renal colic and acute pain.

For bladder stones, bladder laser lithotripsy is also used, which is especially important for patients with recurrences or chronic inflammations. The laser breaks stones into micro-particles that are easily excreted from the body.

Thus, the procedure is effective for any part of the urinary system.