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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeSurgicalDetail HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">Open Surgery for Kidney Stones</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionOverview" id="sec-hw204410"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="323f2320" fingerprint-exact="258236d1">Surgery Overview</h2><p fingerprint="ca36d462" fingerprint-exact="7e66a252">In open surgery to remove kidney stones, the surgeon uses an incision in the person's abdomen or side to reach the kidney and remove the stones. He or she then puts a small tube (catheter) near the kidney to drain urine until the kidney heals.</p></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwMediaItem-tp13680" id="sec-hw204412"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="hw204412" id="anchor-hw204412" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="4d4832b8" fingerprint-exact="8491e1c7">What To Expect After Surgery</h2><p fingerprint="9d49afd6" fingerprint-exact="ebabd4bb">You will be in the hospital for 6 to 9 days. You are usually able to resume your normal activities within 4 to 6 weeks.</p></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwMediaItem-aci2313" id="sec-hw204414"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="hw204414" id="anchor-hw204414" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="214571c1" fingerprint-exact="3ca7f0b7">Why It Is Used</h2><p fingerprint="5871e8b0" fingerprint-exact="0b0b5191">Open surgery is rarely needed to remove kidney stones. You may need it if:</p><ul fingerprint="bb75f219" fingerprint-exact="70e9021b"> <li>You have large stones caused by an infection (<a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="sts15222" data-hw-section="sts15222-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="sts15222" data-hwid="sts15222" hw:section-href="sts15222-sec" href="?id=sts15222#sts15222-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">staghorn calculi</span></a>).</li> <li>You were born with an abnormality in your <a class="HwLinkMultiMedia" data-hw-type="MultiMedia" data-hw-document-href="ug3110" data-hw-section="ug3110-sec" rel="MultiMedia" hw:document-type="MultiMedia" hw:document-href="ug3110" data-hwid="ug3110" hw:section-href="ug3110-sec" hw:link-type="image" href="?id=ug3110#ug3110-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">urinary system</span></a> that affects urine flow in the kidneys, <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stu3310" data-hw-section="stu3310-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stu3310" data-hwid="stu3310" hw:section-href="stu3310-sec" href="?id=stu3310#stu3310-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">ureters</span></a>, or <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stb117051" data-hw-section="stb117051-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stb117051" data-hwid="stb117051" hw:section-href="stb117051-sec" href="?id=stb117051#stb117051-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">bladder</span></a>.</li> <li>Other treatment methods have failed to remove or dissolve the stone.</li></ul></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSxQuestion615" id="sec-hw204421"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="hw204421" id="anchor-hw204421" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="f5001b9d" fingerprint-exact="74f07377">How Well It Works</h2><p fingerprint="9639b63e" fingerprint-exact="f6bb576c">Depending on the location of the kidney stone, open surgery usually can completely remove the stone.</p></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionRisks" id="sec-hw204423"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="hw204423" id="anchor-hw204423" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="a566bce5" fingerprint-exact="1aacb8d8">Risks</h2><p fingerprint="adecc444" fingerprint-exact="f3f71852">The risks of open surgery to remove a kidney stone include:</p><ul fingerprint="e69c7090" fingerprint-exact="e7b48a22"> <li>Severe bleeding.</li> <li>Infection.</li> <li>Risks linked with <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stg17243" data-hw-section="stg17243-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stg17243" data-hwid="stg17243" hw:section-href="stg17243-sec" href="?id=stg17243#stg17243-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">anesthesia</span></a>.</li> <li>An increased risk of getting a <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="sth149784" data-hw-section="sth149784-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="sth149784" data-hwid="sth149784" hw:section-href="sth149784-sec" href="?id=sth149784#sth149784-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">hernia</span></a> where the cut was made for surgery.</li></ul><p fingerprint="7ea43605" fingerprint-exact="673b0aed">There also is the risk that the kidney may be severely damaged by the open surgery and may have to be removed.</p></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionWhatToThinkAbout" id="sec-hw204430"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="hw204430" id="anchor-hw204430" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="6adade83" fingerprint-exact="d1bd8974">What To Think About</h2><p fingerprint="7df8840d" fingerprint-exact="9a941d3f">During recovery at home, <b>call your surgeon immediately</b> if you have:</p><ul fingerprint="93e90fab" fingerprint-exact="c1cd56d3"> <li>Sudden pain.</li> <li>Fever.</li> <li>Nausea or vomiting.</li> <li>Signs of infection, such as swelling or redness around the incision.</li> </ul><p fingerprint="daec7186" fingerprint-exact="b7bac039">The use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, and ureteroscopy to remove kidney stones has nearly eliminated the need for open surgery to remove stones.</p><p fingerprint="870e9ae0" fingerprint-exact="4a96216f">The recovery time following open surgery is much longer than the recovery time for the treatments listed above.</p></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-hw204407-Credits"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="hw204407-Credits" id="anchor-hw204407-Credits" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> April 9, 2026</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff</span></a><br><span><b><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">Clinical Review Board</span></a></b></span><br>All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentBottom"> </div><div class="HwContentNavigation HwContentNavigationNoSections"><div class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </div><div class="HwContentNavigationTop"><a href="#top">Top of the page</a></div><div class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </div></div><div class="HwContentInformation HwContentInformationNoSections"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span>April 9, 2026</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en">Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff</a></p><p><a class="HwLinkDisclaimer" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en"><span><b>Clinical Review Board</b></span></a><br>All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.</p></div></div></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar2"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationTop"> </div><div class="HwElement" id="HwNavigationWrapper"><div class="HwNavigation" id="HwNavigation" role="navigation"><h3 class="HwNavStackHeader" id="HwNavStackHeader">Topic Contents</h3><ul aria-labelledby="HwNavStackHeader"><li id="nav-hw204410"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="hw204407" data-hw-section="hw204410" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="hw204407" data-hwid="hw204407" hw:section-href="hw204410" href="?id=hw204407#hw204410">Surgery Overview</a></li><li id="nav-hw204412"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="hw204407" data-hw-section="hw204412" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="hw204407" data-hwid="hw204407" hw:section-href="hw204412" href="?id=hw204407#hw204412">What To Expect After Surgery</a></li><li id="nav-hw204414"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="hw204407" data-hw-section="hw204414" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="hw204407" data-hwid="hw204407" hw:section-href="hw204414" href="?id=hw204407#hw204414">Why It Is Used</a></li><li id="nav-hw204421"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="hw204407" data-hw-section="hw204421" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="hw204407" data-hwid="hw204407" hw:section-href="hw204421" href="?id=hw204407#hw204421">How Well It Works</a></li><li id="nav-hw204423"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="hw204407" data-hw-section="hw204423" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="hw204407" data-hwid="hw204407" hw:section-href="hw204423" href="?id=hw204407#hw204423">Risks</a></li><li id="nav-hw204430"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="SurgicalDetail" data-hw-document-href="hw204407" data-hw-section="hw204430" hw:document-type="SurgicalDetail" hw:document-href="hw204407" data-hwid="hw204407" hw:section-href="hw204430" href="?id=hw204407#hw204430">What To Think About</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="HwNavigationWrapper HwNavigationEmpty"> </div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationBottom"> </div><div class="HwElement" id="HwMediaItemsWrapper"><div id="HwMediaItems"><ol 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