Laser lithotripsy is a procedure to break apart kidney stones in the urinary tract. It is
done with a ureteroscope passed into the tubes of the urinary tract. Incisions are not
needed.
The laser breaks the kidney stones into smaller pieces that can either be removed by
the surgeon or pass out of the body in the urine.

Kidney stones can become trapped anywhere in the urinary tract, including the kidney
and the ureter. The ureter is a tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. If
a stone gets stuck in the ureter it can cause a blockage and the back-up of urine into
the kidney. They can also be quite painful.
Laser lithotripsy is used to break apart the kidney stone so that it can pass through the
ureter. The pieces will either be removed by the surgeon using a special basket or left in
place where they will move from the ureter to the bladder, then out of the body with the
urine.
Laser lithotripsy may be chosen if other non-surgical treatments have failed or if kidney
stones are:
 Too large to pass
 Irregular in shape
 Causing bleeding or damage to surrounding tissue

Call your doctor if any of these occur:
 Inability to urinate
 Pain that cannot be controlled with the medications you were given
 Redness, warmth, excessive bleeding, or drainage
 Signs of infection, including fever or chills
 Persistent nausea or vomiting
 Increasing or large amounts of blood in the urine
 New or worsening symptoms