Stone Surgery

STONE SURGERY

POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

You have required surgery for removal of stones from your urinary tract. Although a variety of methods are employed for treatment of stone disease, some general instruction concerning your postoperative care are important to understand.

If you have a stent placed, you will be so informed by Dr. Bertini. This is a small rubber tube that is placed inside of the tract that leads from the kidney to the bladder. This tube helps the passage of small stone debris out of your system. The stent may cause some urinary irritability, stinging while voiding, slight back pain while voiding and small amounts of blood in the urine. Occasionally, the stent is connected to a small blue string which comes out of the urinary opening. Do not pull on the string, as it will cause the stent to become dislodged. The string is present to allow Dr. Bertini to remove it in the office without instrumentation.

Your diet after stone surgery should consist of increased fluids. Drink enough fluid to remove the red color from your urine. Half of what you drink should be water; the remaining half should be divide among any fluid, avoiding excesses. Alcohol should not be ingested if pain medication is being taken.

If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it until the prescription is complete. If pain medication is prescribed, take it carefully as directed.

You will need to call for a return appointment to see Dr. Bertini as instructed.
When you arrive in his office, please be sure to be able to give a urine specimen.

If you have been instructed to strain your urine, please do so faithfully. Bring all fragments with you into the office during your visit. They will be submitted for stone analysis. The stone analysis, which takes approximately three to four weeks to return, is important to identify any methods which can be employed to reduce the recurrence of stone disease.

The stone analysis is probably the single most important piece of information
concerning prevention of stone disease. Some of you will have received a booklet entitled, "Urinary Stones." If you have not, ask for it during your postoperative visit to the office. This booklet is very informative concerning treatment and prevention of stone disease.

If any unusual symptoms or emergencies should arise, please contact Dr. Bertini-if possible, during office hours-if not, your call will be forwarded automatically through the answering service for a call back from Dr. Bertini.