Kidney Stone

What is a Kidney Stone?

A kidney stone, also known as a renal stone or renal calculus, is a hard mass made of crystals that forms inside the kidney. Almost all urinary stones originate in the kidneys and may later travel into the ureter, urinary bladder, or urethra.

Kidney stones are more commonly seen in:

• Men than women
• People between 20 and 40 years of age
• Individuals with a family history of kidney stones
• Patients with previous stone disease
• People with dehydration or low fluid intake
• Obese individuals
• Patients with hyperparathyroidism
• People consuming a high-protein diet
• Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, renal tubular acidosis, cystinuria or recurrent urinary tract infections
• People taking certain medications that increase the risk of stone formation

Why Kidney Stones Should Never Be Ignored?

Kidney stone disease is generally associated with low morbidity when diagnosed and treated early. However, if neglected, it can gradually destroy kidney function and become a life-threatening condition.

During his 45+ years of exclusive experience in kidney stone treatment, Dr. Pawan K. Gupta has treated thousands of patients and has unfortunately witnessed many cases where neglected kidney stones led to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and irreversible kidney failure.

Patients who are coming late often have:

• Multiple stones in both kidneys
• Raised Serum Creatinine & Urea levels.
• Severely damaged kidneys with little functioning kidney tissue remaining on non-contrast CT scan

Once kidney tissue is permanently destroyed, it cannot be regenerated. Many of these preventable cases occur because of delayed treatment, lack of awareness, fear of surgery, poverty or prolonged use of unscientific treatments.

Early diagnosis and timely treatment can prevent these serious complications and help preserve kidney function.

Can Kidney Stones Pass Naturally?

Yes, 70 – 80% of kidney stones measuring up to 5 mm pass naturally through the urinary tract and do not require surgery. As the stone size increases, the chances of spontaneous passage become lower.

Small stones, however, can cause sudden, severe and unbearable pain as they move from the kidney into the ureter. This pain often requires emergency medical attention and immediate pain relief.

Most patients can be managed with:

• Adequate hydration
• Pain-relieving medicines
• Careful observation
• Regular follow-up

Only a small proportion of patients require surgical intervention.

Why Do Small Kidney Stones Cause Severe Pain?

When a small kidney stone travels down the ureter, it often becomes lodged at the ureterovesical junction (UVJ)—the narrow point where the ureter enters the urinary bladder. As the narrowest part of the ureter, the UVJ is one of the most common sites of stone impaction.

Patients may experience sudden severe pain in the side or lower back, pain radiating to the lower abdomen or groin, burning during urination, blood in the urine or a frequent urge to pass urine. The pain occurs because urine cannot drain normally, causing stretching of the kidney and spasm of the ureter. However, we must remember that a more common cause of back pain is a disease of the muscles or spine and not the kidney stones.

Helping Small Stones Pass

Most small kidney stones pass naturally with conservative treatment.

Your doctor may recommend:

• Drinking plenty of fluids after the severe pain has settled.
• Prescribed pain-relieving medicines.
• Alpha-blocker medications to relax the lower ureter and facilitate stone passage.
• Regular follow-up to monitor stone movement.

Important: During an episode of severe kidney stone pain, drinking excessive amounts of fluids may actually worsen the pain by increasing pressure within the kidney. Always follow the doctor’s advice regarding fluid intake during an acute attack.

The Images Below are of Kidney Stones taken as snapshots from the video recording of RIRS Surgery done at our hospital with Digital Flexible Ureteroscopes, Flex XC and Flex XC S.

When Does a Kidney Stone Need Treatment?

Not every kidney stone requires surgery. Surgical removal depends on the size, location, symptoms and effect on kidney function.

Surgical removal is usually recommended if:

• The stone is too large to pass naturally.
• Pain persists despite medicines.
• The stone blocks the flow of urine from the kidney and causes back pressure changes in the kidney (Hydronephrosis).
• Kidney function is affected.
• There is a recurrent urinary tract infection.
• There is persistent blood in the urine.
• The stone continues to increase in size.
• Both kidneys are affected.
• The patient has a single functioning kidney.

Early treatment helps prevent permanent kidney damage and other serious complications.

Advanced Kidney Stone Treatment in Panipat at R P Stone Clinic

At R P Stone Clinic in Panipat, treatment is tailored as per the need of each patient. Dr. Pawan K. Gupta has over 45 years of exclusive experience in kidney stone treatment and is a pioneer of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) in India.

The hospital offers modern, minimally invasive treatment options, including:

• Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS): RIRS is an advanced laser assisted procedure performed through the natural urinary passage without any incision or artificial hole. A flexible ureteroscope is passed into the kidney and the stone is fragmented using a holmium laser or TFL (Thulium Fiber Laser).
  Dr. Pawan K. Gupta has been performing RIRS since 1998 and has successfully treated thousands of patients using this advanced procedure.
• Ureteroscopy (URS): URS is commonly performed for stones lodged in the lower ureter. A thin ureteroscope is passed through the urinary passage and the stone is removed or fragmented using laser energy. Fragments are picked up and removed.
• PCNL and Mini-PCNL: Large or complex kidney stones may require Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) or Mini-PCNL. These minimally invasive procedures allow effective removal of large stones through a small incision in the back and kidney.
• ESWL (Shock Wave Lithotripsy): Selected patients with small kidney stones may benefit from Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), where shock waves break the stone into smaller fragments that pass naturally in the urine.

Why Choose R P Stone Clinic for Kidney Stone Treatment in Panipat?

R P Stone Clinic is a dedicated centre for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney stones, offering advanced and personalized care under the supervision of Dr. Pawan K. Gupta.

Kidney stones are highly treatable when diagnosed early. While many small stones pass naturally, larger or obstructing stones require timely medical attention to prevent pain, infection and permanent kidney damage.

Experiencing symptoms of kidney stones or are looking for expert kidney stone treatment in Panipat, schedule a consultation with Dr. Pawan K. Gupta at R P Stone Clinic. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can protect your kidneys and improve your quality of life.