Ureteroscopy (URS)
for Ureteric Stones
in Chennai
A no-incision laser treatment for stones stuck in the ureter a
thin scope passes through the natural passage to clear the stone
directly, giving rapid relief with a quick, day-care recovery.
Ureteroscopy (URS) for Ureteric Stones
Ureteroscopy addresses stones lodged in the ureter the narrow tube connecting the kidney and bladder by passing a thin scope and laser through the natural passage, without requiring an incision.
A lodged stone in the ureter often causes sudden, intense pain and may obstruct the kidney. During ureteroscopy, a small telescope is inserted to reach the stone, and a laser is used to break it into smaller pieces, which can then be removed or pass naturally. Sometimes, a basket is employed to collect the fragments.
Ureteroscopy provides quick relief and fast recovery because it directly treats the stone without requiring any cutting.
Benefits of Ureteroscopy
No incision
Performed through the natural urinary passage.
Treats stones directly
Reaches and clears the ureteric stone at its site.
Rapid relief
Quickly relieves the pain and blockage of a stuck stone.
High clearance
Effective clearance of ureteric stones.
Day-care / short stay
Most patients go home the same day or after one night.
Quick recovery
A fast return to normal activities.
Am I a candidate for URS
Small lower-ureteric stones deserve a fair chance to pass naturally with fluids, pain control and a ureter-relaxing tablet. URS comes into play when waiting is no longer the right answer:
Stones unlikely to pass
Above ~5–6 mm, the odds of spontaneous passage fall steeply especially in the mid and upper ureter.⏱️
Failed trial of passage
A stone that hasn't moved after a few weeks of medical expulsive therapy is considered to be stuck.⚡
Pain that keeps returning
Repeated colic episodes, ER visits, and injections URS ends the cycle in one sitting.
Kidney under threat
Obstruction with kidney swelling, rising creatinine, or a stone in a solitary kidney time is critical.
Hard stones / failed ESWL
Dense stones that resist shock waves are directly removed with the laser under visual guidance.
Life that can't wait
Pilots, drivers, frequent travellers, those undergoing upcoming surgery or planning pregnancy situations where "hoping it passes" is not a plan.
The one situation where URS must wait: fever with the stone.
Fever with an obstructed stone indicates infected urine trapped under pressure an emergency requiring drainage, not stone surgery. A small internal stent or a nephrostomy tube relieves the pressure, antibiotics clear the infection, and URS removes the stone a week or two later, safely. Operating through an infection risks pushing bacteria into the bloodstream a risk never worth taking.
The procedure & your recovery
Assessment
Imaging confirms the stone's position in the ureter.
Procedure
A thin scope and laser clear the stone through the natural passage.
Stent
A temporary DJ stent is often placed to help the ureter heal.
Going home
A day-care or short stay; most resume light activity within a day or two.
Stent removal
The stent is removed after a short interval in a quick procedure.
Ureteroscopy in Chennai
Dr. A.K. Jayaraj is a Senior Consultant Urologist in Chennai with specialised endourology training and extensive experience in ureteroscopy for ureteric stones. He provides rapid, effective relief for the severe pain a stuck stone can cause.
For each stone he chooses the least invasive effective technique, and focuses on preventing future stones.
- Ureteroscopy for ureteric stones
- Rapid stone relief
- Endourology-trained urologist
- 20+ years of surgical experience
Frequently asked questions
Stones measuring up to about 5–6 mm in the lower ureter can often pass on their own, given adequate fluids, pain relief, and a ureter-relaxing medication, with monitored follow-up imaging. Ureteroscopy (URS) is indicated when the stone is larger, pain persists, no movement occurs after a few weeks, infection or swelling develops, or if your condition makes another colic episode intolerable. The decision between ultrasound and your specific situation depends on combined factors.
There are no cuts — the scope passes through the natural passage. It is done under anaesthesia, so the procedure is painless. A temporary stent afterwards can cause mild urinary urgency for a few days.
A soft, temporary DJ stent is often placed after ureteroscopy to help the ureter heal and drain, especially if there was swelling or a larger stone. It is removed after a short interval in a quick procedure.
Ureteroscopy is usually a day-care or short-stay procedure, and most people return to normal activities within a day or two, with any stent removed shortly afterwards.
Related conditions & treatments
Severe stone pain? Book a consultation
discussion of ureteroscopy and rapid relief.