Kidney Stone Treatment in Tripoli, Lebanon

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidney. They range from grains of sand to stones several centimetres across. Small stones often pass on their own; larger ones can block the flow of urine and need treatment.

Stones are common in hot climates such as Lebanon's, where the body loses more fluid through sweat.

Causes and risk factors

Stones form when substances in the urine, such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid, become concentrated and crystallise. The risk is higher with:

Not drinking enough fluids, especially in hot weather
A diet high in salt and animal protein
A personal or family history of stones
Conditions such as gout, overactive parathyroid glands and repeated urinary infections
Some medications
Differences in the anatomy of the urinary tract

Symptoms

Small stones inside the kidney may cause no symptoms. Pain usually starts when a stone moves into the ureter, the tube that drains the kidney.

Sudden, severe pain in the side or back, below the ribs
Pain spreading to the lower abdomen or groin
Blood in the urine
Nausea and vomiting
Burning or frequent urination

Diagnosis

The consultation starts with your history and an examination, followed by tests to confirm the stone and plan treatment:

A urine test and, when needed, a urine culture
Blood tests for kidney function, calcium and uric acid
Imaging: a low-dose CT scan is the most accurate test, and ultrasound avoids radiation
Analysis of any stone that passes, to guide prevention

Treatment options

The right treatment depends on the size and position of the stone, your symptoms, and whether the kidney is blocked or infected.

Watchful waiting and medication

For small stones: fluids, pain relief and, for stones in the ureter, a medicine that relaxes the ureter to help the stone pass.

Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy

A thin scope passed through the urinary tract reaches the stone without any incision, and a laser breaks it into fragments. Most patients go home the same or the next day.

Shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

Shock waves applied from outside the body break up selected small-to-medium kidney stones, with no incision.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

For large kidney stones, usually over 2 cm: the stone is removed through a small opening in the back.

Preventing new stones

Without prevention, stones often come back. Simple measures make a real difference:

Drink enough to pass about 2 to 2.5 litres of urine a day
Cut down on salt and red meat
Get calcium from food rather than supplements
Add citrus fruit, which helps stop stones forming
Follow the plan based on your stone analysis and blood tests

Frequently asked questions

Many stones under about 5 mm pass within a few weeks. Larger stones are less likely to pass on their own. If a stone has not passed within a few weeks, or if there is infection or blockage, treatment is recommended.

The procedure is done under anaesthesia, so you feel nothing during it. Discomfort afterwards is usually mild and controlled with simple pain relief.

Sometimes. A thin temporary tube called a stent may be left in the ureter for a short time after surgery to let swelling settle. It is removed in a quick procedure.

Stones often recur, which is why prevention matters. Analysing the stone and your blood and urine helps tailor the advice to you.

Stones treated promptly rarely cause lasting harm. A stone that blocks the kidney for a long time, or causes repeated infection, can damage it, which is why follow-up is important.

This page is general information and does not replace a medical consultation.

Kidney Stones