When a kidney stone actually needs surgery
Stones under 5 mm in the ureter often pass on their own with fluids, painkillers and a short course of medication. Beyond that, the chance of spontaneous passage drops sharply, and a stone that sits and blocks urine can quietly damage the kidney even after the pain settles.
- Pain that keeps returning or needs injections
- Stone larger than 6 mm, or not moving on repeat scans
- Swelling of the kidney (hydronephrosis) on ultrasound
- Fever with a stone — this is an emergency, not a wait-and-watch situation
- Stone in a single functioning kidney, or stones on both sides
- Rising creatinine, or infection in the urine that keeps coming back
A stone plus fever plus reduced urine output needs the same-day drainage of the kidney. Call before the night, not after it.
How Dr. Kinjal Banerjee chooses the procedure
A plain CT KUB (non-contrast) gives the stone's size, exact position and density, and that report decides the route. The aim is always the smallest access that clears the stone completely in one sitting — a partially cleared stone is the commonest reason patients need a second surgery within a year.
- Under 1 cm, in the kidney: RIRS through the natural urinary passage, no cut
- Ureter stone: URSL with laser fragmentation
- Above 2 cm or staghorn: PCNL or mini PCNL through a keyhole in the back
- Bladder stone: endoscopic cystolitholapaxy
Recovery, cost and what happens after
Most laser stone procedures are a one-night admission, with normal desk work resumed in three to five days. If a DJ stent is placed, it usually comes out in one to two weeks in a two-minute OPD procedure.
Cost in Faridabad varies with the procedure, the implant and stent used, the hospital room category and your insurance panel. Stone surgery is covered by almost every health insurance policy and by CGHS/ECHS/Ayushman panels at empanelled hospitals; the clinic team gives a written estimate and handles the pre-authorisation paperwork.
The part most patients skip is the follow-up. A stone analysis and a 24-hour urine test tell us why the stone formed, and whether your risk of the next one is 5% or 50%. That single conversation prevents more surgery than the surgery does.
Kidney Stone Treatment — common questions
Can a 10 mm kidney stone pass without surgery?
Very unlikely. Stones above 6 mm rarely pass on their own, and a 10 mm stone sitting in the kidney or ureter will usually need RIRS, URSL or PCNL depending on where it is. Waiting with a blocking stone risks permanent loss of kidney function on that side.
Is laser stone surgery painful?
The procedure itself is done under spinal or general anaesthesia, so you feel nothing. Afterwards the discomfort most patients report comes from the DJ stent, not the laser — a mild burning or urge to pass urine that settles once the stent is removed.
How much does kidney stone surgery cost in Faridabad?
It depends on the technique, whether a stent or disposable scope sheath is used, and the room category. Rather than quoting a range that may not apply to you, the clinic gives a written estimate after seeing your CT report, along with what your insurance is likely to cover.
Will the stone come back?
Around half of stone formers form another stone within five to ten years if nothing changes. Stone analysis, a metabolic workup and a simple fluid and diet plan bring that risk down substantially, which is why follow-up matters as much as the surgery.
Reviewed by Dr. Kinjal Banerjee, MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DNB (Urology) — Urologist, Renal Transplant & Robotic Surgeon, Faridabad. This page explains kidney stone treatment in general terms; your own treatment plan depends on your reports and examination.