How long does it take for a 4 mm kidney stone to pass?

Question

Hello doctor,

I was admitted to the hospital last week due to an overwhelming pain that made me pass out and vomit. I discovered I had a 0.157 inch kidney stone. It is now stuck in my ureter. It was stuck in the thinnest part of the tube. It has been almost one week since the pain started and I have not yet passed the stone, though the pain is under control and there has been no problem urinating I just wanted to know if this is normal. How long does the stone take to pass?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

We welcome you to icliniq family.

I appreciate the confidence you place in me for your healthcare consultation.

The general recommendation for treatment for 0.157 inch ureteric calculi, is >95 percent chance of spontaneous clearance irrespective of its location. If pain is under control, then we just have to wait for the stone to pass out. There are three narrow points in the ureter where it gets stuck.

The maximum waiting time for the stone to pass out is six weeks. However, if the stone is stuck at the same location for more than two weeks, then intervention is needed. However, if it does not pass out by six weeks, it is better to surgically remove it. Surgery will be an endoscopic procedure.

I hope this has helped you.

Thank you.