If you have had a kidney stone once, chances are that they might recur. Dr. Raina tells us about the precautions that need to be taken:

The first thing you have to do is to drink a lot of water. You should pass at least two litres urine a day so three litres is the minimum amount of water you need to drink everyday.

Apart from that, make sure you reduce your daily intake of:

• Milk and milk products
• Spinach
• Salt
• Red meat

Treatment

Depending upon the size, number of the kidney stones, where it is located and the function of the kidney, various treatments are advised. These treatments are available at reputed urology units in various dedicated centres and major hospitals.

• Lithotripsy (ESWL)

This involves breaking of the stones by a machine (Lithotripter). The machine creates shock waves that travel through the skin and body tissues and fragments the stones. These small fragments are sand like particles which can easily pass through the urinary passage.

• Ureteroscopy with laser fragmentation

Here, a fine telescopic device is passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. The stone is located, fragmented with pneumatic lithoclast or laser fibres and removed completely.

• Keyhole surgery

Also known as PCNL, it is an effective way to remove a large stone, multiple stones from the kidney through a small opening (less than 1 cm). This is an effective method for tackling complicated stones in the kidney with greater accuracy.