Problems after Kidney-Stone Treatment

Many people treated for kidney stones may have problems afterward that send them to the hospital, a new study finds. Researchers looked at data on 93,000 U.S. patients who received treatment for kidney stones. About 14% had problems that required a hospital stay or emergency room treatment during the next 30 days, the study found. The average cost of treating these problems was $30,000. The study looked at 3 types of treatment. Shock-wave lithotripsy uses shock waves, applied outside the body, to break up the stones. The pieces then pass out of the body through urine. Uteroscopy uses instruments attached to a long tube to find the stone and break it up. The pieces are removed with a tiny basket or through the urine. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is used for larger stones. Instruments inserted into a small incision in the kidney are used to break up and remove the stone.