Ureteroscopy at The Queen’s Medical Center

The Queen’s Medical Center Kidney Stone Center offers ureteroscopy, a procedure performed to examine the inside of the ureter, which is the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder, and removes kidney stones, if necessary. Kidney stones form in the kidneys and may break loose and become trapped in the ureters.

If you have developed kidney stones and are scheduled to have this procedure:

• You will be placed under anesthesia and a long thin scope, called a ureteroscope, is inserted into the ureter to locate the kidney stone.
• Once located, the kidney stones can be removed using a special basket device or can be broken down with a laser through the scope.
• Through the scope method, a device called the ureteroscope first goes through the urethra (the tube that drains the bladder), then through the bladder, and finally into the ureter where the kidney stone is trapped. No incision is made during this step.
• After the stone is removed or broken up, your doctor may insert a stent. The stent is a thin flexible tube placed in the ureter for several days or weeks to help any remaining stone pieces pass through the bladder. This will also prevent swelling of the ureter that could block the flow of urine.
• Once the remaining kidney stones are passed, the stent will be removed by your doctor in a separate appointment.