Urolithiasis is an age-old disease and has a growing global incidence and prevalence. In a 2017 study from northern India, the lifetime prevalence of urinary stones was noted to be 7.9%. In the year 2019, more than a fifth of all incident cases of urolithiasis worldwide occurred in India.
Stones develop in the kidney and usually do not cause any symptoms. As they travel down the ureter, they can cause pain termed renal or ureteric colic. Stones can occur as a result of various causes (Figure 1). Patients can present with unilateral colicky pain in the flank or abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, and hematuria.
Treatment of stones is tailored to each patient and depends on multiple factors. The size, location, and composition of stones are key factors guiding treatment decisions.