Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in your kidneys. When the stone shifts position in the kidney and fall into the ureter they can get stuck, causing pain, kidney damage or other issues. Surgery may be recommended if a kidney stone can't pass out of the body naturally. Here, Duke urologist Ro Tejwani, MD, explains the two main surgeries used to remove large kidney stones: Suction-assisted ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy or PCNL.

Make an appointment: dukehealth.org/treatments/urology/kidney-stones