Kidney Stones
A Comprehensive Stone Center in Queens
Kidney stones are small, hard mineral deposits inside the kidney when the urine is too concentrated. Minerals crystallize and adhere to one another, most often due to dehydration, dietary factors, chronic urinary infections, and sometimes an underlying metabolic disorder. They affect about one in 10 people over their lifetime.
The Stone Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens provides the most advanced treatments for kidney stones and then works with you to reduce your risk of developing them again in the future. We know how painful kidney stones can be, and we do all we can to reduce your risk so you can have a better quality of life.
Our Approach
The urologists at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens work closely with nephrologists (kidney doctors), nutritionists, and radiologists to provide integrated care for kidney stones. Our dedicated Stone Center uses state-of-the-art technologies to evaluate and treat kidney stones. We work with you and your referring physician to tailor the best treatment plan to meet your needs. Our kidney stone specialists hold academic appointments at Weill Cornell Medicine. Through one of the leading urology programs in the country, you'll have access to the most advanced surgical and medical therapies for kidney stones.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College
Assistant Professor of Clinical Urology
Assistant Attending Urologist
Attending Urologist
Specialties
Surgery
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Affiliations
NEWYORK-PRESBYTERIAN QUEENS
How We Diagnose Kidney Stones
If your primary care provider believes you may have kidney stones, it is essential that you see a board-certified urologist. Our urologists have advanced endourology training and the ability to use endoscopic instruments and other tools to navigate inside the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. The urologist is able to customize your treatment plan based on your medical history and other factors. In addition to blood and urine tests, we use a number of technologies to diagnose kidney stones and determine their cause.
Computed tomography (CT) scanning
CT is the most accurate imaging test to diagnose kidney stones. It provides detailed information about the size and location of a stone.
Ultrasound
Kidney and bladder ultrasound are useful to look for a potential blockage during an acute pain episode as a stone tries to pass. This test can help us identify the stone location and approximate size. We also use ultrasound to monitor patients over the long term for recurrent kidney stones.
Kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) x-ray
Like ultrasound, KUB may be used during an acute pain episode or during kidney stone follow-up care. If the stone is large enough and visible on an x-ray, it can commonly be seen on KUB.
Medications for Kidney Stones
Most people with kidney stones do not require surgery. If your stone is in a ureter and is less than 10 mm in size, we support you while we see if the stone will pass. During this time, we carefully monitor your pain level and kidney function and make sure there is no evidence of infection. You may receive:
- Pain relievers. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can reduce the pain from a passing kidney stone. In some cases, stronger pain medications may be prescribed.
- Medical expulsive therapy. We sometimes give drugs called alpha-blockers, such as tamsulosin (Flomax), to ease the passage of a kidney stone from the ureter. These medications not only increase the chance of stone passage, but can also make the stone pass more quickly and with less pain.
Kidney Stone Surgery
If a stone cannot pass on its own or with medication, the urologists at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens offer minimally invasive procedures to destroy or remove it. These treatments are typically performed under general or regional anesthesia. Minimally invasive treatments are associated with small or no incisions, less pain after the procedure, less time spent in the hospital, and a faster recovery.
Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy
During this incision-free surgery, the surgeon passes a thin fiber-optic or digital telescope equipped with a camera called a ureteroscope through your urethra and bladder and into your ureter to see and treat the stone. Ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy is usually done as an outpatient procedure and is now the most common treatment around the world for kidney stones. Here's how it works:
- If the stone is too large to remove safely, it is first broken down into smaller pieces with a laser.
- Surgical tools called baskets are then inserted to retrieve the stone or stone fragments. The stone pieces may be sent for analysis to determine their composition.
- A temporary stent is then put in place to gently open up the ureter, relieve swelling, help pass stone fragments (typically after the stent is removed), and promote healing.
- We have the most advanced lasers at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, including the Boston Scientific MOSES 2.0 Holmium Laser as well as the Thulium Laser. Using these lasers, we clear stones faster and more efficiently.
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL)
Guided by ultrasound or x-rays, the urologist can locate a stone from outside your body and target high-energy sound waves at the stone to break it up into smaller fragments, so they can be passed from your body. This procedure is not invasive and can be done on an outpatient basis.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
If you have a large stone or you have multiple or complex kidney stones, PCNL is the recommended treatment.
- The surgeon makes a small incision in your back and inserts a protective sheath into your kidney.
- A video scope called a nephroscope is then introduced to locate, break up, and remove the stone and stone fragments.
- This procedure is done on an outpatient basis and you can go home the same day.
- We use the most advanced devices for PCNL, including the Trilogy LithoClast, which uses ultrasonic and ballistic energy to remove stones faster and more safely.
Preventing Future Kidney Stones
In addition to blood and urine tests at the time of diagnosis, people at high risk of having recurrent kidney stones, those with a single kidney, and patients with certain medical conditions (like obesity, diabetes, gout, bowel disorders, and chronic kidney disease) have a more comprehensive metabolic evaluation. This includes specialized blood tests and 24-hour urine collection(s) to see what may be causing their stones and evaluate the composition of previously passed stones.
We'll connect you with one of our nephrologists to evaluate your metabolic risk factors for stone formation and make suggestions about lifestyle modifications and/or possibly medication that can reduce your risk of stone development.
Why Choose Us
If you have a kidney stone, you may have an increased risk of developing more in the future. At the Stone Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, you can receive treatment for acute kidney stones as well as ongoing care for a lifetime to reduce your chance of developing more stones. Our goal is to help you live the most comfortable life possible despite kidney stones. You can receive all the care you need through one hospital, close to your home. Since we are part of NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the country's largest medical centers, you'll also have access to specialists from all areas who are available to provide you with comprehensive care. Contact us today to learn more about our program for kidney stone care.