Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are common - about one in 10 Australians will have kidney stones.

Bendigo Urology provide comprehensive care for patients with kidney stones at St John of God Hospital in Bendigo.

Acute Renal Colic

Kidney stones may cause severe pain (acute renal colic) if they pass into the ureter and block the kidney. Small stones may pass spontaneously without the need for surgery. But some stones are too big to pass, and need surgery to remove the stone and relieve the obstruction.

Mr Stephen Lindsay accepts urgent referrals for patients with acute renal colic, however you will need a referral from your GP or from an Emergency Department doctor. There is no Emergency Department at St John of God Hospital in Bendigo.

If you have severe pain, you should call an Ambulance on 000 or attend your nearest Emergency Department.

Treatment Options

	Conservative Small ureteric stones usually pass spontaneously with no need for surgery. • strong pain relief • increased fluids • strain your urine to catch the stone • medication may help the stone to pass spontaneously
	Lithotripsy (ESWL) Shock waves generated outside the body pass through the skin and into the kidney to break up stones in the kidney. • day case procedure • the stone is shattered into fragments that pass out of the body in the urine • you will need pain relief and an increased fluid intake postoperatively to flush out the stone fragments
	Ureteroscopy and Pyeloureteroscopy Telescopes can be passed through the bladder up into the ureter or kidney to remove stones. • Small stones can be captured in a "basket" and removed • Larger stones usually need to be broken up (by Lithoclast or Holmium Laser, as in this image) and the fragments removed
	Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Percutaneous "keyhole" surgery is performed through a small incision in the flank. The telescope is passed directly into the kidney. • Large stones in the kidney are broken up and removed in this way