Dr. Samhitha Reddy
Consultant Proctologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon
MBBS, MS, FMAS, FISCP, DMAS
- 8 Yrs
- ASCRS Member
Urology · Stone Disease
Kidney Stone Treatment in Hyderabad: Laser Care at Lux Hospitals
Kidney stone pain is among the most severe pain in medicine: patients routinely describe it as worse than childbirth. It comes in waves, radiates from the loin to the groin, and no position relieves it.
Most stones pass on their own with the right support. For those that do not, our urologists at Lux Hospitals, HITEC CITY use laser lithotripsy, RIRS and keyhole PCNL: techniques that clear stones without a single external incision.
- Laser & Keyhole Techniques
- Day-Care Options
- Recurrence Prevention
What are Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that crystallise inside the kidney when urine becomes too concentrated. They can sit silently in the kidney for years and cause nothing at all: the trouble begins when one moves into the ureter, the narrow tube draining the kidney, and obstructs it.
The pain of renal colic comes from that obstruction rather than from the stone itself. Urine backs up, the kidney swells, and the ureter goes into spasm trying to push the stone along. It comes in waves, is often accompanied by vomiting, and characteristically nothing you do relieves it.
Stones vary in composition, and that matters for preventing the next one. Calcium oxalate stones account for the great majority. Uric acid stones can sometimes be dissolved with medication alone. Struvite stones form in the presence of infection and can grow very large. Cystine stones are rare and inherited. This is why every stone retrieved is sent for analysis.
Causes of Kidney Stones
Stones form when urine becomes supersaturated with stone-forming minerals. Dehydration is the single largest contributor, particularly in Indian summers.
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Inadequate fluid intake
The commonest and most correctable cause. Concentrated urine allows crystals to form and grow, and hot climates make this considerably worse.
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High salt intake
Salt increases calcium excretion into the urine, and dietary salt reduction is one of the most effective preventive measures.
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Dietary oxalate
Spinach, nuts, chocolate, tea and beetroot are high in oxalate, which binds calcium in urine to form the commonest stone type.
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Excess animal protein
High intake raises urinary calcium and uric acid while lowering citrate, the body’s natural stone inhibitor.
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Obesity
Associated with more acidic urine and higher excretion of stone-forming substances, and it independently raises the risk.
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Family history
Stones run in families, reflecting both inherited metabolic tendencies and shared diet and climate.
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Medical conditions
Hyperparathyroidism, gout, recurrent urinary infections, inflammatory bowel disease and renal tubular acidosis all promote stone formation.
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Certain medications
Some diuretics, calcium-based antacids, topiramate and excessive vitamin C supplementation all increase risk.
Someone who has formed one stone has roughly a fifty per cent chance of forming another within five to ten years. That is exactly why prevention matters as much as treating the current stone.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
A stone sitting in the kidney often causes nothing. A stone moving down the ureter causes the most distinctive pain in urology.
Typical symptoms
- Severe pain in the loin radiating to the groin, coming in waves
- Pain so severe you cannot stay still or find a comfortable position
- Blood in the urine, sometimes visible and sometimes only on testing
- Nausea and vomiting accompanying the pain
- Frequent urge to urinate, and pain on passing urine
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Emergency features: seek care now
- Fever or chills alongside the pain: an infected obstructed kidney
- Inability to pass urine at all
- Uncontrollable vomiting preventing fluid intake
- Confusion, a racing pulse or low blood pressure
- Pain in a patient with a single functioning kidney
- Pain that is unrelieved by strong painkillers
Fever with renal colic is a urological emergency. An obstructed kidney with infection above it can cause sepsis within hours, and it needs urgent drainage rather than antibiotics alone.
How Kidney Stones are Diagnosed
A non-contrast CT is the definitive test. It shows stone size, position and density: all of which determine which treatment is right.
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Non-contrast CT KUB
The gold standard, detecting virtually every stone regardless of composition, with precise size and position. It also measures density, which predicts how the stone will respond to shock waves.
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Ultrasound
First-line in pregnancy and in children, avoiding radiation. It shows kidney swelling and larger stones, though small ureteric stones are often missed.
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Urine tests
Dipstick for blood, and culture to detect infection, which changes an elective problem into an urgent one.
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Blood tests
Kidney function, calcium, uric acid and inflammatory markers, assessing both the kidney and any metabolic cause.
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X-ray KUB
Useful for following a known radio-opaque stone over time with much less radiation than repeated CT.
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Stone analysis and metabolic workup
Every retrieved stone is analysed, and recurrent stone formers get a 24-hour urine study to identify the underlying cause.
Stone size predicts what will happen next more than anything else. Stones under five millimetres pass spontaneously in most people; those above ten millimetres rarely do and usually need intervention.
Treatment Options for Kidney Stones
Small stones are given the chance to pass with support. Larger ones are treated with techniques that leave no external incision at all.
Non-surgical
Conservative management
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Watchful waiting with hydration
For stones under five millimetres, high fluid intake and pain relief. Most pass spontaneously within four weeks.
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Medical expulsive therapy
Alpha blockers such as tamsulosin relax the ureter and improve the chance a stone in the lower ureter will pass.
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Pain management
Anti-inflammatory medication is more effective than opioids for renal colic, since it reduces the ureteric spasm directly.
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Dissolution therapy
Uric acid stones can be dissolved by alkalinising the urine with potassium citrate: the one stone type treatable with medication alone.
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Shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
Focused shock waves from outside the body break the stone into fragments that pass in the urine. No anaesthetic incision, though fragments still have to pass.
Procedural
Endoscopic and keyhole surgery
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Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy
A fine scope is passed up the natural urinary passage and a laser fragments the stone, with pieces retrieved directly. No incision, and often a day-care procedure.
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RIRS
Retrograde Intra-Renal Surgery: a flexible scope reaches into the kidney itself through the natural passage, treating stones up to around two centimetres.
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PCNL
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a keyhole tract into the kidney through the back for large or staghorn stones. The most effective option for bulky stone burden.
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Mini-PCNL
The same principle through a smaller tract, with less bleeding and a shorter stay for moderate-sized stones.
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Emergency stent or nephrostomy
For an infected obstructed kidney, urgent drainage by stent or a tube through the back. Definitive stone treatment follows once the infection has settled.
A ureteric stent is often placed after treatment to keep the ureter open while swelling settles. It causes some urinary urgency and discomfort, which is expected and resolves as soon as it is removed.
What Laser Stone Surgery Involves
A thirty to sixty minute procedure performed entirely through the natural urinary passage. No incision, no external wound, and usually a day case.
Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy
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Pre-operative assessment
CT reviewed for stone size and position, urine culture confirmed clear of infection, and routine bloods. Operating through infected urine risks sepsis.
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Anaesthesia
General or spinal anaesthesia. The procedure is not painful afterwards, though the stent can cause urgency.
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Passing the scope
A fine ureteroscope is passed through the urethra and bladder and up the ureter, under direct vision and X-ray guidance.
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Locating the stone
The stone is identified directly. A flexible scope is used where it sits within the kidney rather than the ureter.
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Laser fragmentation
A holmium laser fibre is passed down the scope and fragments the stone into dust or small pieces. The laser works on every stone composition.
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Retrieving the fragments
Pieces are removed with a basket rather than left to pass, and one is always sent for composition analysis.
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Stent and discharge
A stent is usually left for one to two weeks, and you go home the same day or the next morning.
Sending a fragment for analysis is not a formality. Knowing whether the stone was calcium oxalate, uric acid or struvite is what makes it possible to prevent the next one specifically rather than generically.
Why Choose Lux Hospitals for Kidney Stone Treatment?
Stone treatment is now almost entirely incision-free, and preventing the next one matters as much as clearing this one. Here is why patients trust us:
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Expert urologists
A dedicated urology team performing laser lithotripsy, RIRS and PCNL routinely, with the full range of techniques available.
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Prevention built in
Stone analysis and metabolic assessment for recurrent formers, so the next stone is prevented rather than just awaited.
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Comprehensive care
From the first consultation through to post-treatment follow-up, with one team throughout.
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Convenient location
Our hospital is in HITEC CITY, near IKEA: easily reachable from across Hyderabad.
Recovery & Prevention
Recovery from endoscopic stone surgery is quick. Preventing the next stone is the part that takes ongoing effort, and it works.
- Day 0–1
Home the same day or the next morning after ureteroscopy. Some burning on passing urine and blood in the urine, both expected.
- Days 2–7
Normal activity resumes. Stent symptoms (urgency, frequency and mild flank discomfort on passing urine) are common and settle.
- Weeks 1–2
Stent removed in the clinic, a quick procedure needing no anaesthetic. Symptoms resolve immediately afterwards.
- Weeks 2–6
Full recovery. After PCNL, the small back wound heals and normal activity resumes over this period.
- Months 1–3
Follow-up imaging confirms the kidney is clear, and stone analysis and metabolic results guide a prevention plan.
Aftercare
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Drink enough to pass 2.5 litres daily
The single most effective prevention there is. Aim for pale urine throughout the day, and more in summer or if you work outdoors.
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Reduce salt
Salt drives calcium into the urine. Cutting it is often more effective than cutting calcium, which should not be restricted.
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Do not cut dietary calcium
A common and counterproductive mistake. Normal dietary calcium binds oxalate in the gut and actually reduces stone risk.
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Add citrate
Lemon juice and citrus inhibit stone formation naturally. Potassium citrate is prescribed where a metabolic study indicates it.
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When to call us
Fever, uncontrolled pain, inability to pass urine, or heavy bleeding. Fever with a stent or a stone always needs same-day assessment.
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Get the stent removed on time
A stent left in beyond its intended period encrusts with stone and becomes difficult to remove. Never miss that appointment.
Around half of stone formers make another within five to ten years, but that figure falls substantially with adequate fluid intake, salt reduction and treatment of any metabolic abnormality found.
When Should You Seek Care?
Come in promptly for the first three, and go to the emergency department for the rest.
- Severe loin pain radiating to the groin.
- Blood in the urine.
- Recurrent urinary infections with a known stone.
- Fever or chills with loin pain: emergency.
- Inability to pass urine: emergency.
- Persistent vomiting preventing you keeping fluids down: emergency.
Cost of Kidney Stone Treatment in Hyderabad
Cost depends on stone size, position and the technique used. These are the ranges our patients fall into.
| Procedure | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Consultation & assessment Per visit | ₹800 – ₹1,500 |
| CT KUB scan The definitive diagnostic test | ₹4,000 – ₹9,000 |
| Medical management Pain relief and expulsive therapy for small stones | ₹2,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) Per session; may need repeating | ₹25,000 – ₹55,000 |
| Ureteroscopy with laser (URSL) Day care or one night; stent included | ₹55,000 – ₹1,10,000 |
| RIRS One night’s stay; flexible scope and laser | ₹85,000 – ₹1,70,000 |
| PCNL Two to four nights; for large stones | ₹1,20,000 – ₹2,40,000 |
What changes the estimate
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Stone size and position
A small ureteric stone treated by ureteroscopy and a staghorn stone needing PCNL are entirely different procedures.
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Single or multiple stones
Stones in both kidneys, or several in one, may need staged procedures a few weeks apart.
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Whether infection is present
An infected obstructed kidney needs urgent drainage first, then definitive treatment later: two admissions rather than one.
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Room category
A shared ward, a twin-sharing room or a private suite: the largest single swing in most estimates.
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Insurance & TPA cover
We are empanelled with most major insurers, and our team files the pre-authorisation for you.
Every figure above is an indicative range, not a quote. After your consultation you are given a written, fixed-cost estimate, and that is the number you pay, with no additions once treatment begins.
Benefits of Laser Stone Treatment
What patients treated here can expect:
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No incision
Treatment through the natural urinary passage, leaving no external wound.
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Quick recovery
Day-care options with a return to normal activity within days.
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High clearance rates
Stones fragmented and retrieved rather than left to pass on their own.
Our Surgeons
Kidney Stones Specialists at Lux Hospitals
The urologists who treat kidney stones at our HITEC CITY hospital.
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Dr. Vipin Reddy B
Consultant Urologist & Andrologist
MBBS, MS, DrNB (Urology)
10 years experience
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Dr. Sreeniketh Reddy
Consultant Urologist & Andrologist
MBBS, MS, MCh (Urology)
9 years experience
Testimonials
What Patients Say About Their Treatment
Reviews from patients treated for kidney stones and urological conditions at Lux Hospitals, Hyderabad.
From the Blog
Latest Health Articles by Lux
Written by Dr. Vipin Reddy B on kidney stones, urinary health and urological care.
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Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about kidney stones, laser treatment, and what surgery costs at Lux Hospitals.
What is the best kidney stone treatment?
It depends on the stone. Stones under five millimetres usually pass with hydration and medication. Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy suits most ureteric stones, RIRS handles kidney stones up to about two centimetres, and PCNL is best for large or staghorn stones. None of these requires an open incision.
What surgical treatments are available for kidney stones?
Shock wave lithotripsy breaks stones from outside the body. Ureteroscopy with laser passes a scope up the natural passage. RIRS uses a flexible scope to reach into the kidney. PCNL uses a keyhole tract through the back for large stones. Open surgery is now almost never needed.
Why is a stent used in kidney stone treatment?
A stent keeps the ureter open while swelling from the procedure settles, preventing obstruction and allowing fragments to pass. It causes urinary urgency, frequency and some flank discomfort: all expected, and all resolving the moment the stent is removed one to two weeks later.
Is laser kidney stone treatment safe?
Yes, it is safe and highly effective. The holmium laser works on every stone composition and only fragments what it touches. Risks include infection, bleeding and ureteric injury, all uncommon. Ensuring the urine is free of infection before the procedure is what keeps it safe.
Can kidney stones be prevented?
To a considerable extent, yes. Drinking enough to pass two and a half litres of urine daily is the single most effective measure. Reducing salt, moderating oxalate-rich foods, maintaining a healthy weight and adding citrate all help. Where a metabolic abnormality is found, targeted medication reduces recurrence further.
Should I stop eating calcium-rich foods?
No: this is a common and counterproductive mistake. Normal dietary calcium binds oxalate in the gut so it is not absorbed and cannot form stones. Restricting calcium actually increases stone risk. Reducing salt is far more effective, and calcium supplements taken away from meals are the exception worth discussing.
How long does it take for a kidney stone to pass?
Stones under five millimetres pass in most people, usually within four weeks. Those between five and ten millimetres pass less often and take longer. Above ten millimetres, spontaneous passage is unlikely and treatment is generally recommended rather than waiting.
Why do I need fever assessed urgently with a kidney stone?
Because an obstructed kidney with infection above it can progress to sepsis within hours. This is one of the true urological emergencies. It needs urgent drainage with a stent or nephrostomy tube: antibiotics alone will not reach infected urine trapped behind a blockage.
How much does kidney stone laser treatment cost in Hyderabad?
Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy at Lux Hospitals ranges from about ₹55,000 to ₹1,10,000 including the stent, RIRS from ₹85,000 to ₹1,70,000, and PCNL from ₹1,20,000 to ₹2,40,000. Shock wave lithotripsy is ₹25,000–₹55,000 per session. A written estimate follows your CT.
How can I book an appointment for kidney stone treatment?
You can book an appointment by calling us, messaging us on WhatsApp, or walking into Lux Hospitals, HITEC CITY. For severe pain with fever or inability to pass urine, come straight to the emergency department.
Still have questions? Call us at 079 6908 4422
Still have questions? Message us on WhatsApp at 079 6908 4444
Book Your Kidney Stone Consultation in Hyderabad
Incision-free laser stone treatment with a prevention plan afterwards, and a fixed-cost estimate before treatment begins.
Plot No.116, Lumbini Avenue, HITEC CITY, Near IKEA, Hyderabad – 500032