How to manage upper ureteral stones and renal stones
Disease description:
My friend told me he had developed kidney stones and went to the hospital for evaluation, where imaging revealed an upper-ureteral stone. How should an upper-ureteral stone be managed?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Mingchuan
Treatment options for upper ureteral and renal calculi include conservative management, pharmacological therapy, and surgical intervention. If the stone is smaller than 0.6 cm and located relatively high in the urinary tract, conservative management may be appropriate—this involves increasing fluid intake and engaging in regular physical activity to facilitate spontaneous stone passage. Adjunctive pharmacotherapy, such as succinyl litholytic granules or anisodamine tablets, may also be used to support stone expulsion. If the stone fails to pass spontaneously, surgical interventions—including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)—can be performed at a hospital.
