Kidney Stones

Make an Appointment

New Patient

Existing Patient

You have been seen by a Duke provider for urology care within the last three years or you need to reschedule an appointment.

Schedule with MyChart

or call

919-684-2446

Kidney stones can increase your risk of chronic kidney disease, which is why fast detection and treatment are important when painful symptoms occur. Duke urologists and nephrologists use advanced technology to determine your type of kidney stone, its cause, and any conditions that require treatment to prevent a recurrence. Small kidney stones can typically be treated with lifestyle changes or medication.

Our kidney stone specialists also use minimally invasive treatments to remove complicated stones, such as large, recurrent stones, and to manage your care when other kidney diseases are present. Duke is one of only a few hospitals in the country specializing in removing large and complex stones. Regardless of your diagnosis, our goal is to quickly return you to a pain-free life and minimize your risk for kidney-related problems in the future.

Find a Kidney Stones Doctor

Matching Results

Filter Results

Filter by:

Use My Current Location

Located Near You

Loading Results

Showing of Doctors

Load More View All

Testing for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can run in families. Along with an initial physical exam, your health history can help us with a diagnosis. Additional testing may be needed.

Urine Collection and Analysis

After an initial appointment, you will use a urine collection kit to capture your urine over a 24-hour period. The kit can be returned to a lab using pre-paid postage. Results help your urologist determine the cause of your kidney stones. The most common treatment recommendation is often dietary changes. Your provider may also recommend medications or procedures to help prevent future occurrences.

Blood Tests

Blood may be drawn to check for certain levels of calcium or hormones that could cause the formation of kidney stones.

3D Kidney X-Ray

Digital tomosynthesis is a special technology that uses a series of 2D X-rays in a single scan to build a 3D image. The enhanced detail requires only low doses of radiation and allows your urologist to clearly see kidney stones as small as a few millimeters. This is particularly useful if you have recurrent kidney stones. Low-dose CT scans and/or kidney ultrasounds may also be used to help diagnose kidney stones.

Our Locations

Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.

Find a Location

Treatment for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones don’t always require surgery. We work closely with you to minimize their impact and educate you about preventative options. Small, pain-free kidney stones may be followed conservatively with help from dietary changes, medication, and guidance from your urologist. Larger, complex kidney stones may require surgery for removal.

Medication

Your urologist may recommend medication If you have recurring kidney stones despite dietary changes. Common medicines include potassium citrate, which can alter the acidity of your urine to prevent stones from forming, and thiazide diuretics, which reduce the amount of calcium your kidneys release into the urine. Lifelong use of medications may be recommended to reduce kidney stone formation.

Shock Wave Lithotripsy

This minimally invasive outpatient surgery can treat kidney stones, depending on their size and location. During the procedure shock waves pass through the skin to break the stone into smaller, dust-like pieces that pass out of the kidney in urine. You will be sedated.

Ureteroscopy

During this outpatient surgery, your urologist will insert a small scope with a camera on its tip into your ureter and/or kidney to look for stones. A laser breaks the stones into small pieces, which are captured and removed with a basket or suction.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

During this inpatient surgery, your surgeon will insert a scope through a small incision in your back. A special instrument is passed through the scope to deliver pulses to break up the kidney stone into smaller pieces. Those pieces are then suctioned and removed. The procedure requires an overnight hospital stay. Because there is a chance for small amounts of bleeding if you exert yourself after the surgery, it's recommended that you do not lift anything over 10 pounds for two weeks. After that, you can return to normal activities.

Duke Health urologist Chad Gridley explains how your diet can be a big factor in preventing kidney stones. He shares tips on what to eat, drink, and make easy adjustments to keep your body healthy and avoid the pain of passing a kidney stone.

If you get a kidney stone once, your risk of getting a second stone within 10 years increases by 50%. Duke Health urologist Chad Gridley explains how changes to your diet can help prevent future stones and how a urologist can help you monitor symptoms to avoid the problem from coming back.

How Can I Prevent Kidney Stones? | Duke Health

How Can I Avoid Getting Another Kidney Stone? | Duke Health

New Patient Appointment

855-855-6484

Request an Appointment Online

Why Choose Duke

A Proven Track Record
Our team of urologists performs over 400 ureteroscopic procedures every year. This gives our specialists a unique level of experience that reduces the likelihood of complications and the skill to help you recover quickly.

A Team Approach
Our team has years of surgical experience treating and removing complex kidney stones. Along with urologic surgeons, our anesthesiologists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners have completed specific training in treating kidney stones. This breadth of understanding and support makes Duke a unique option for kidney stone care.

Leaders in Kidney Stone Research and Treatment
We were one of the first centers to adopt the use of laser technology to break down kidney stones, and ongoing research keeps us designing more effective ways to remove them. This means you get access to the latest treatments before they become available elsewhere. Because we helped develop many of today’s standard techniques for surgical kidney stone removal, we have an advanced understanding of the best way to treat you. We often treat people turned away by other centers.

Best Hospital for Urology in North Carolina

Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our urology program is nationally ranked, and the highest-ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2024–2025.

This page was medically reviewed on 03/19/2025 by

Jodi Antonelli, MD | Urologist