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Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy uses a small incision in the person's back to remove kidney stones. The surgeon puts a hollow tube into the kidney and a probe through the tube. In nephrolithotomy, the surgeon removes the stone through the tube. In nephrolithotripsy, he or she breaks the stone up and then removes the fragments of the stone through the tube.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Tushar J. Vachharajani, MD, FASN, FACP - Nephrology
Last Revised April 28, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 28, 2011
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