Page 2 - Renal Colic
P. 2
Renal colic
alpha-blocker (e.g. tamsolusin / Flomax or silodosin/ Most cases will require a general anaesthetic (you
TM
Rapaflo ) to help the muscle of the ureter relax and are “put to sleep”) or spinal anaesthetic (a needle
TM
facilitate stone passage. in the back “freezes” you below the waist and you
remain conscious). Some cases can be performed
The majority of kidney stones cannot be dissolved. comfortably with sedation alone. Once visualized
However, one form (uric acid stone) may occasionally through the scope, the stone can then be removed
disintegrate when the urine is made less acid with by trapping it in a wire “basket” and carefully pulling it
medication (alkalinization). It is important to try to out. Various instruments including lasers are available
collect any stone passed so that it can be analyzed to fragment larger stones and allow their passage
to determine its chemical make-up. This will allow your or removal. Upon completion of the procedure,
physician to advise measures to reduce the risk of a thin plastic tube (ureteric stent) may be placed
further stone formation. temporarily in the ureter to prevent blockage while
any swelling resolves. Overnight hospitalization may
When pain is difficult to control or the stone be recommended.
becomes lodged and fails to pass, your physician
will recommend additional treatment. A fever Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
(greater than 38.5°C) or chills suggests the possibility
of infection and indicates the need for more urgent
treatment. There are a number of ways to treat a Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a surgical
stone causing renal colic. The type of treatment procedure in which kidney stones are removed using
recommended will depend on a number of factors, a scope passed through a small skin incision made in
including your general health, as well as the type, size the flank or the back into the kidney containing the
and location of your stone. stone(s). The procedure is usually recommended for
patients with kidney stones which are too large or
numerous for shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy.
Shock wave lithotripsy This procedure is carried out in a hospital or surgical
centre with appropriate anaesthetic and hospital
Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) (“stone blasting”) is a admission for a few days.
non-surgical treatment in which high energy shock
waves are used to pulverize a stone into smaller
fragments which may pass more easily and with less Follow-up
pain.
Patients who experience renal colic need follow-up
A special machine (which may not be available at with their family physician or urologist until the stone
your local hospital) is used to generate shock waves. passes.
X-rays or ultrasound are used to focus the shock Call your doctor or go directly to a hospital
waves precisely on the stone. The shock waves pass emergency room if you have:
harmlessly through body tissues until they hit the hard
stone causing it to break up. The fragments can then • Severe and persistent pain not relieved by
flush out more easily in the urine. SWL may not be your prescription painkiller
appropriate for larger stones or for those that are • Chills or fever above 38.5°C or 101°F
difficult to locate on x-ray. • Persistent nausea and vomiting
Please arrange a follow-up appointment with
Ureteroscopy Dr. ____________________in ______days / weeks.
Ureteroscopy is a procedure in which a narrow o An X-ray should be obtained immediately
telescope is passed through the urethra (urinary tube) prior to your follow-up appointment.
and bladder, into the ureter up to the stone. This If you have any questions or concerns regarding
surgical procedure requires some form of anaesthesia. kidney stone formation, you should not hesitate to
discuss them with your family doctor or urologist.
This publication is produced by
The information in the publication is not intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for direct consultation with a qualified medical
practitioner. The Canadian Urological Association disclaims all liability and legal responsibility howsoever caused, including negligence, for the cua.org
information contained in or referenced by this brochure. 38E-RNCE-01-14
© 2014. Canadian Urological Association. All rights reserved.