Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy or Nephrolithotripsy

This procedure is used to remove kidney stones.

The doctor makes a small incision in your back. The doctor then puts a hollow tube into your kidney and a scope through the tube.

In nephrolithotomy, the doctor removes the stone through the tube.
In nephrolithotripsy, the doctor breaks the stone up and then removes the fragments of the stone through the tube.

You need either general anesthesia or regional or spinal anesthesia during this procedure. A small tube (catheter) may be inserted into the kidney to drain urine until the kidney heals.

What To Expect

Most people leave the hospital 1 to 3 days after surgery. Some even go home the same day. Most people are able to return to work within a few weeks.

Why It Is Done

This procedure may be used to treat kidney stones that are:

Larger than 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter.
Large and caused by an infection (staghorn calculi).
Blocking the flow of urine out of the kidney.
Not broken up by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

How Well It Works

These procedures work for most people with stones in the kidney or ureter.

Risks

Risks of this procedure include:

Bleeding.
Holes (perforation) in the kidney. They usually heal without further treatment.
Injury to other abdominal organs, such as the bladder or colon.
Damage that affects normal kidney function.

Credits

Top of the page

Current as of: April 9, 2025

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.