Staghorn Kidney Stone Treatment

According to No More Kidney Stones, a staghorn kidney stone can destroy an entire kidney. It has the potential to cause more damage because it can grow larger than any other type of kidney stone. It can also form on top of an existing stone.

Fact

• The correct medical term for a staghorn kidney stone is "struvite kidney stone." It is sometimes referred to as "staghorn" because its shape is often similar to a stag's horns. This type of stone is also known as an "infection stone" because it's often the result of a kidney infection.

Treatment

• A staghorn kidney stone is problematic and may require special treatment. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse, medical intervention is needed if the stone causes constant pain, is too large to pass on its own, blocks urine, prolongs a urinary tract infection or damages the kidney and causes bleeding.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithrotripsy (ESWL)

• According to the American Kidney Fund, ESWL breaks the staghorn kidney stone into tiny pieces that eventually exit the body through urine. The procedure uses a series of shock waves to shatter the stone. It is slightly painful and loud. Patients are sedated and given earphones to protect their hearing.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a procedure in which the stone is surgically removed. A small incision is made in the patient's back, and the stone is removed with a nephroscope.

Ureteroscopic Stone Removal

• Ureteroscopic stone removal is needed when the stone is lodged in a ureter. The ureters are the two thin tubes that connect the bladder to the kidneys. This procedure involves the use of a small tool called an ureteroscope. The tool is inserted into the ureter and used to grab the stone. Then, ultrasound or laser energy is passed through the tool to shatter the stone.