A small telescope/camera is inserted into the bladder and urinary tract to look at the stone. Your urologist then breaks and/or removes your stone with a laser. Some pieces may pass in the urine over time as well.
Advantages:
- Minimally invasive (no incisions)
- Highly successful (in most cases >90%)
- Low risk of complications
- Outpatient procedure (same-day, no overnight stay required)
- No required activity restrictions in recovery
Disadvantages:
- Usually requires a stent, resulting in more discomfort (this can be improved with non-narcotic pain medicine)
- Slightly longer recovery (3-5 days)
Potential Complications
- Infection
- Blood in urine
- Pain from stent
- Scar tissue formation
- Incomplete stone treatment
- Injury to structures such as the urethra, bladder, ureter, or kidney (rare)
Ureteral Stents
These are often inserted at the time of ureteroscopy and typically are removed in the office 5-7 days after surgery. Click on ureteral stents to learn more.
Kidney Stone Center of Maine 