Kidney and bladder stone care 

All stones begin in the kidneys, but they may move to other parts of the urinary system. Some urinary stones move from the kidney to the ureter (tube that connects the kidneys and bladder). These stones may be called urinary or ureter stones. If the stones move through the ureter to the bladder, your doctor may call it a bladder stone. If the stones remain in the kidneys, doctors usually refer to them as kidney stones.

The stone’s location also plays a role in your treatment. If the stone is in the bladder and small enough to pass, you may choose to let it come out in the urine naturally. But if stones are large or remain in the kidneys, surgery or other treatments may work better for you.

Our urologists are experts in treating kidney and bladder stones. We offer:

• Precise diagnosis: Our doctors use advanced CT and ultrasound equipment to identify the size, shape, and location of stones.
• Personalized treatment plans: Doctors often treat small bladder and kidney stones with medication and pain management. Your doctor may also recommend waiting to see if the stones resolve on their own. If you desire kidney stone removal or the stones are large, we provide every type of surgical treatment available. Our specialists give you all your options so you can choose the best treatment plan for you.
• Minimally invasive kidney stone removal: Our surgeons are skilled in minimally invasive surgery to remove stones, including ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy. We use thin, specialized instruments that are designed to move through the urinary tract, so you have no incisions.
• Skill with complex procedures: Our doctors are among the few in the Philadelphia region who perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This advanced surgery removes large or complicated stones through a small incision in the back.
• Expertise in preventing future stones: Our comprehensive care at Penn includes specialists who help you keep kidney stones from coming back. We work closely with our dietitians, endocrinologists (hormone specialists) and nephrologists (kidney specialists) to ensure you receive complete care.
• Leading-edge kidney stone research: You have access to the latest treatment breakthroughs at our academic hospital. Our experts conduct National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded trials on the cause of kidney stones, advanced imaging for diagnosis and the impact of quality of life after kidney stone surgery.

You receive personalized treatment options based on your unique needs. Your treatment may include:

• Medications: If your stones are small and safe to pass on their own, our urologists help you comfortably pass them with medication.
• Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL): This noninvasive, nonsurgical treatment uses high-energy sound waves to break up stones. This procedure helps the stones pass naturally and, requires no incisions or hospital stay.
• Minimally invasive kidney stone removal: Our surgeons are skilled in minimally invasive surgery to remove stones, including ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy. During ureteroscopy, doctors guide a tiny camera and laser inside the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder). Then, they guide it into the ureter (tube that connects the kidneys and bladder) to break up stones. We use thin, specialized instruments that are designed to move through the urinary tract, so you have no incisions.
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: This surgery is an effective treatment if kidney stones are large, complex or other treatments haven't worked.

Our urology surgeons have expertise in this surgery, which requires advanced training.

Fast appointments, convenient care

Penn urologists offer same-day kidney and bladder stone imaging for a fast, convenient diagnosis.