Ureteroscopy
At Providence, your comfort is our priority. When you need relief from ureteral or kidney stones, you can trust our urologists to combine innovative technology and compassionate care to deliver targeted, personalized treatment. When called for, ureteroscopy is a highly effective, minimally invasive procedure to diagnose and treat your urologic condition.
A ureteroscopy is a procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube fitted with a camera called a ureteroscope to locate and remove small stones in your kidney or ureter (the tube that connects your bladder to your kidneys). The ureteroscope is placed in your urethra, then through the bladder to your ureter. Once the stone is located, special tools can grab the stone or break it up into smaller pieces with use of holmium laser lithotripsy.
Ureteroscopy is an outpatient procedure. Since it requires general anesthesia, you’ll want to arrange for someone to drive you home.
While you’re asleep, your urologist will pass the ureteroscope through the urethra, bladder and into the ureter. The ureteroscope allows your urologist to locate and view any stones or abnormalities and remove them.
Depending on your condition, your urologist may place a ureteral stent in your ureter to help urine flow from the kidney to the bladder. The stent is temporary and typically removed in a few days to a few months.
Once the procedure is complete, you’ll have some time to recover as the anesthesia wears off. You’ll likely be asked to drink 16 ounces of water every hour for two hours.
It is normal to have some pain during urination and a little blood in your urine during the first 24 hours after your procedure.
Ureteroscopy is considered a safe procedure. However, there is a risk of complication. Unlikely but possible complications include infection, bleeding and injury to the ureter.
When you partner with Providence for your exam, you can rest easy knowing your care team has the skill and experience necessary to reduce the risk of complication.