Endourology for kidney stones at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals Murrayfield and Shawfair Park

Kidney stones are quite common. They affect men more than woman, generally in people aged 30 to 60. About 10-20% of men affected by them experience severe pain while 3-5% of women affected have severe pain. (source: NHS Choices)

According to the British Association of Urological Surgeons, stones are responsible for more than 12,000 hospital admissions each year.

These stones are formed from crystals found in the urine and in most cases they are too small to be noticed and pass harmlessly out of the body. However, sometimes they can build up inside your kidney and form much larger stones, which can be big enough to block the flow of urine, causing pressure, pain, infection and even permanent damage to your kidney function.

Our consultants will explain all the medical issues and discuss which treatment is best for you.

If you decide to have kidney stones treatment with us, you’ll be cared for by an experienced multi-disciplinary team who understands what you’re feeling and is dedicated to your wellbeing.

If you have kidney stones, you will be under the care of a consultant urologist who specialises in endourology. 

Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. A number of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the surgeon you want to work with, when you want, and where you want from across our network of 38 hospitals and many clinics across the UK. They’ll be with you every step of the way: from giving advice at your first consultation, through to offering on-going support after your surgery.

All of our surgeons are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well equipped hospitals. If you don't have someone in mind, we can help you choose the best consultant for you.

You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

Although this is a relatively straightforward process, you may be required not to eat solid foods or certain drinks for a period of time before your procedure. You may see this referred to as 'starve times', and we will advise you of these before your admission.

Your treatment may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow the advice that we give to you. It's natural to feel anxious before hospital treatment, but knowing what to expect can help. Please raise any concerns or questions with us so you feel comfortable and in control.

You will have one of the following procedures:

Laser stone surgery using rigid ureteroscopy

Involves a day case procedure during which the surgeon passes very thin flexible instruments up to the stone in the kidney, and breaks it up using laser energy. The fragments are then removed during the operation. 

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

This is used for very large stones - over 2cm. It involves passing stone-breaking instruments into the kidney through a small incision in your back. You will need to stay in hospital for a night or two afterwards.

All of these treatments are performed under general anaesthetic so you will be asleep throughout the procedure.

We understand that having surgery can often be a time of anxiety and worry, but our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.

The amount of time you will need to stay in hospital will vary depending on your treatment. It is likely you will need to stay in hospital for a couple of days. You should drink fluids regularly for 48 hours after your treatment to help flush your kidneys and lower the risk of developing a urinary tract infection.

After the procedure, you'll be moved into your own private room complete with en-suite facilities, TV and Wi-Fi where you can recover in comfort until you are feeling up to going home. Your friends and family will be able to visit pretty much anytime you want – we have flexible visiting hours.

Before you go home, a nurse will make arrangements for you to have a further X-ray and a follow-up appointment at the outpatient clinic.

Pain relief

You may have some discomfort and you will be given painkillers to relieve this.

Recovery time

After treatment, stone fragments may pass in your urine for a few weeks and cause you some pain. It's normal to see small fragments of the broken stone and a little blood in your urine during the first few days.

Your consultant will advise you how soon you can go back to work and how long you should wait before resuming regular physical activities. We will provide you with a 14 day supply of all the medicines your consultant feels you need to take home with you after you've left hospital.

To prevent kidney stones from developing again, you should drink plenty of water daily to stop becoming dehydrated, and look at what you eat to make sure you have a normal-calcium, low-salt, low-protein diet. (source: British Association of Urological Surgeons)

The success of your treatment will depend on the density, size and position of the stone. Sometimes treatment may need to be repeated.

Looking after you

Even once you've left hospital, we're still here for you. Your consultant is likely to want to see you again to check how you're doing. A follow-up appointment at the out-patient clinic will be made for you before you leave the hospital.

On rare occasions, complications following kidney stones treatment can occur. If you experience any of these symptoms - feel unwell or have severe pain, develop a high temperature, feel a burning sensation on passing urine or if your urine becomes smelly, have an increase in blood in the urine - please call us straight away. Specific complications are rare but you may develop a urinary tract infection, which will need to be treated with antibiotics that we will supply.

Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.

If you have any questions or concerns we're ready to help.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

Although this is a relatively straightforward process, you may be required not to eat solid foods or certain drinks for a period of time before your procedure. You may see this referred to as 'starve times', and we will advise you of these before your admission.

Your treatment may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow the advice that we give to you. It's natural to feel anxious before hospital treatment, but knowing what to expect can help. Please raise any concerns or questions with us so you feel comfortable and in control.