How serious is kidney stone surgery?

Major complications, such as severe bleeding or injury to the kidney and adjacent structures, are relatively uncommon. The most common problems are pain associated with the small incision site, the need for a stent or tube to temporarily provide drainage of the kidney, and blood in the urine.

How long does stone surgery take?

The procedure, which is done under general anesthesia, takes about 1.5 hours. You'll typically return home the same day. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: Your doctor makes a small incision in your back and guides a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope to your kidney to break up and remove the stone.

How long does it take to recover from kidney stone surgery?

While the recovery times vary for each procedure, most patients are fully recovered within six weeks and can resume their normal activities. Many patients feel much better the first week, but care must be taken to assure that healing is complete.

What size kidney stone is too big to pass?

Typically, any stone 4 millimeters (mm) or less in length will pass on its own within 31 days. Between 4 mm and 6 mm, only 60 percent will pass without medical intervention, and on average take 45 days to exit your body naturally. Anything bigger than 6 mm will almost always need medical care to help remove the stone.

How long will I pee blood after kidney stone surgery?

It is normal to have a small amount of blood in your urine for a few days to a few weeks after this procedure. You may have pain and nausea when the stone pieces pass. This can happen soon after treatment and may last for 4 to 8 weeks.