Kidney Stones
Researchers in the Department of Urology are investigating all facets of kidney stones, including why they form, how they damage the kidneys and potential new treatment options to add to the existing options of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy with laser fragmentation of stones, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
Our research includes both clinical and basic science research, with a goal to quickly translate new findings into effective treatments.
Areas of research in kidney stones include:
- The efficacy of percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy (PUL) after shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and the differences between the patients undergoing PUL alone and those undergoing PUL after SWL failure
- Endoscopic management of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma as a first line treatment in patients with a normal contralateral kidney
- Predicting kidney stone composition using radiographic appearance as a means to help choose between shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous and endoscopic procedures
- Safely dissolving gallbladder stone fragments using methyl tert-butyl ether immediately after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
- Percutaneous nephrostomy placement as the initial procedure in renal or ureteral calculus removal
- Percutaneous extractions of renal pelvic stones using the Wolf percutaneous universal nephroscope
Related