Almost every kidney stone patient has encountered the term “stents” and the treatment they’re most frequently associated with — ureteroscopy. The thought of having a telescope in your bladder may sound unusual, but for those suffering from small to medium-sized stones (<20mm¹), ureteroscopy (URS) may be the most effective solution. Here’s an explanation of why URS might work for you and how you can prepare for it.

Ureteroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can be used to remove kidney stones. Unlike extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), URS allows your doctor to view your stone directly through the ureteroscope.