Kidney Stone Treatment in Delhi – Expert Care at MASSH Hospital

Kidney Stone Treatment in Delhi – Safe & Expert Care

The MASSH Super Specialty Hospital offers advanced kidney stone surgical treatment. Our treatments are rooted in our 5P treatment policy. The 5Ps are: Personalised, Predictive, Preventive, Participatory, and Precise treatments. The 5P policy is put in place to improve patient outcomes and ensure patients always get the best medical care that helps them form a better relationship with their health.

The specialised kidney stone treatment procedures offered at MASSH Super Speciality Hospital include: Ureteroscopy with Laser Lithotripsy (URS), Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS). These treatments are highly advanced and performed with exceptional precision to ensure faster recovery for patients and improved surgical outcomes. These factors help MASSH Super Speciality Hospital stand out as the best institution for expert kidney stone treatment in Delhi.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are mineral deposits in your kidneys that harden to form crystalline stones due to urine concentration. These stones can block the flow of urine in your urinary tract or hinder the functioning of your kidneys. Kidney stones can pass through your urinary tract and exit the body with your urine in some cases. However, without treatment, these stones can grow in size to block and obstruct the flow of urine out of your body, causing intense pain in the process. 

The most common symptoms of kidney stones are the presence of severe abdominal or flank pain, blood in your urine, frequent urge to urinate with difficulty while urinating, and symptoms like nausea and vomiting.

Why Do Kidney Stones Form?

Kidney stones typically develop when the balance of water, minerals, and salts in urine is disrupted. Substances such as calcium, oxalate, phosphate, and uric acid can crystallize and stick together, gradually forming stones. Risk factors include:

• Low fluid intake or dehydration
• High intake of salt, animal protein, or oxalate-rich foods
• Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
• Family history of kidney stones
• Certain medical conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or metabolic disorders

Types of Kidney Stones

Not all kidney stones are the same. Their composition determines the type of stone and the recommended treatment:

1. Calcium Stones

• The most common type (about 70–80% of cases).
• Usually made of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate.
• Risk increases with high-oxalate diets (spinach, nuts, tea) and low fluid intake.

2. Uric Acid Stones

• Form when uric acid levels in urine are too high.
• Common in people with gout, high-protein diets, or dehydration.

3. Struvite Stones

• Develop as a result of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Composed of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate.
• Can grow quickly and may become quite large.

4. Cystine Stones

• A rare type caused by a genetic condition called cystinuria.
• Occurs when kidneys excrete excess cystine (an amino acid), leading to stone formation.

Causes & Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones, also known as renal calculi, are caused by a number of factors, ranging from lifestyle and dietary reasons to underlying health conditions. Understanding the root cause of kidney stones can help with their treatment and recurrence prevention. In many cases, the treatment of kidney stones without understanding the underlying causes can increase the risks of stone recurrence. The most common and important causes of kidney stones are detailed below.

Common Causes of Kidney Stones

• Dehydration: This is among the most common causes of kidney stones, as chronic dehydration leads to urine concentration, which increases your risk of kidney stones.
• Infections: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can both cause kidney stones and be caused by kidney stones. Recurrent UTIs increase your risk of certain types of kidney stone formation.
• Underlying health conditions: Medical conditions like gout, metabolic disorders, and hyperthyroidism significantly increase your risk of kidney stones.
• Dietary factors: Excess salt, animal protein, and oxalate-rich food intake can increase your risk of kidney stones.
• Lifestyle factors: Excess body weight and obesity can increase your risk of kidney stone development.
• Genetics: Rarely, genetic disorders like cystinuria can increase your risk of developing kidney stones.

Typical Kidney Stone Symptoms

The primary symptom of kidney stones is pain. Even though the condition can be asymptomatic in its early stages, the following symptoms are typically associated with kidney stones.

• Severe pain: Lower abdominal, flank, and back pain are the most common kidney stone symptoms.
• Frequent urination: If you need to urinate very frequently with urgency, it can be a sign of kidney stones, if you also have other symptoms.
• Pain during urination: If you experience a burning sensation while urinating, it may be indicative of kidney stones.
• Blood in urine: Cloudy urine that’s foul-smelling can be a sign of kidney stones.
• Nausea: Vomiting, nausea, and fever may be indicative of kidney stones if you have UTIs caused by kidney stones.

Kidney Stone Diagnosis at MASSH Super Speciality Hospital

MASSH Super Specialty Hospital houses advanced diagnostic services in-house. This allows for quick and trustworthy diagnostic testing. Kidney stones at MASSH are diagnosed using state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging tests. The tests are crucial in helping our specialists formulate a personalised plan for every patient availing kidney stone treatment in Delhi at the MASSH Super Speciality Hospital.

1. Urine Analysis

Urine samples from all the urine a person has passed in a 24-hour period are tested to understand the presence of kidney stones in the body. This test also helps doctors understand the type of kidney stones a person might have.

2. Blood Work

Certain minerals are most commonly associated with kidney stones, such as calcium and uric acid. The blood tests recommended by doctors assess the levels of these minerals in your body. Abnormal levels of calcium or uric acid may be indicative of kidney stones if symptoms exist.

3. Imaging Tests

Imaging tests are the gold standard for kidney stone detection, as these tests can clearly show the presence of kidney stones, how many kidney stones are there, and the size of the stones.

• CT Scan (Non-contrast): CT scans are the most accurate kidney stone detection methodology. It can be used to detect even small stones with accuracy.
• Ultrasound: This is the most common imaging test recommended for a kidney stone detection. It is radiation-free, which makes it one of the safest imaging tests.
• X-ray (KUB): X-rays are also commonly used to image large kidney stones. However, certain kidney stone types may not be visible in X-rays, such as uric acid kidney stones.

4. Kidney Stone Analysis (Post-Passage)

This is performed on the kidney stones that you’ve passed with urine. This test allows doctors to understand the stone’s mineral makeup, which can be used to create a personalised treatment. The kidney stone analysis can also be done post-surgery to help patients prevent recurrence.

Kidney Stone Removal Options (URS, PCNL, RIRS, ECIRS)

Large kidney stones or stones lodged in your urinary tract require surgical removal. It is one of the safest and best kidney stone treatments in Delhi as it saves the patient significant physical pain and discomfort. Thanks to the advancements in medical technology, minimally invasive kidney stone removal surgeries are very precise and safe with minimal risks and low recovery times.

Kidney Stone Removal Options

• Laser Lithotripsy: High-powered lasers are used to break kidney stones into small fragments that can naturally pass through the urinary tract. This is also a minimally invasive procedure, as incisions are not made into the body to perform the surgery.
• RIRS (Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery): RIRS is another minimally invasive kidney stone removal surgery that uses a flexible ureteroscope inserted into the urethra of the patient. Once the stones are located using the ureteroscope, a high-powered laser is used to disintegrate the kidney stone, which is then allowed to pass normally through the urinary tract.
• PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy): This is a minimally invasive procedure that involves making a small incision into the flank of the patient to get direct access to the kidneys. The surgery involves using a nephroscope to remove large kidney stones directly from the kidney. PCNL offers an excellent alternative to open surgery in many cases.
• URS (Ureteroscopy): A ureteroscope is a thin medical device with a high-definition camera attached at its top. It is inserted into the patient’s body through the urethra. The ureteroscope is used to effectively locate and remove kidney stones located near the patient’s ureter. 
• Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery (ECIRS): ECIRS is an advanced minimally invasive surgery that uses both PCNL and URS to perform complex kidney stone removal. ECIRS is highly effective in removing a large number of stones, and it also allows for quick recovery.

Note: Each procedure is selected based on stone size, location, and patient health, ensuring safe and effective kidney stone treatment.

Kidney Stone Surgery Recommendation Based on Stone Size

The patient’s overall health, stone location, size, and frequency are thoroughly understood before recommending kidney stone treatments in Delhi. The general rule of thumb used at MASSH Super Specialty Hospital suggests:

Note: The type of surgery recommended to patients depends a lot on the stone size, number of stones, and the stone location. Identifying these factors helps improve surgical efficacy in stone removal and allows MASSH Super Speciality Hospital to offer better kidney stone treatment in Delhi.

Cost of Kidney Stone Treatment in Delhi at MASSH Hospital

The cost of kidney stone treatment at MASSH Hospital in Delhi depends on the type of procedure, complexity of the case, and individual patient requirements. 

Minimally invasive treatments like Laser Lithotripsy, RIRS, or URS generally involve shorter hospital stays and faster recovery, while procedures such as PCNL may require more extensive care. 

Factors like room category, surgeon expertise, diagnostic tests, and post-operative support can influence overall treatment expenses. 

MASSH Hospital offers insurance coverage, bundled packages, and guidance on government schemes to ensure accessible and affordable kidney stone care. 

Consulting our expert urologists helps patients select the most suitable treatment and receive a personalized cost estimate.

Kidney Stone Prevention Tips

Kidney stones are preventable in some cases with the right lifestyle and dietary changes. Prevention tips include:

• Adequate hydration: Drinking at least 2 to 3 litres of water per day can help prevent kidney stones.
• Limit Oxalate-rich food: Excess consumption beyond dietary guidelines of food items like spinach, nuts, and chocolate can contribute to a higher risk of calcium oxalate kidney stone formations.
• Mindful salt intake: People with high salt consumption are at a higher risk of kidney stones.
• Fibre-rich diet: Dietary fibre can potentially help you reduce your risk of kidney stones, which is why it is crucial to add fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet.

Our preventative healthcare strategies, provided by the top urologists in Delhi, can help you reduce your risk of kidney stones and live a healthier life overall.

This page is medically reviewed by Dr. Ankit Goel, the Head of Urology, Andrology & Uro-Oncology Department at MASSH Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi.