Patient Relations
A urologist at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) has successfully removed a patient’s kidney stone using a new, high-energy laser system.
Dr. Nazar Mustafa, a urology consultant at JHAH, removed the stone using a Lumenis Pulse 120H Holmium Laser System, which was recently installed at JHAH Dhahran.
The Lumenis system features MOSES technology, which generates high-power laser pulses that more effectively break up kidney stones. The system also reduces the movement of stones during the procedure and reduces operating time.
Dr. Mustafa said that the Lumenis laser offers superior accuracy compared to other systems, and significantly better outcomes for patients than shockwave and other non-laser therapies.
“With other lasers, the stone can move while you are trying to break it up with the laser pulse — but the Lumenis laser keeps the stone in place,” Dr. Mustafa said. “This means the urologist has the confidence that the stone will stay put while they work to dissolve it.”
Dr. Tareq Al Tartir, Chief of Urology at JHAH, said:
Kidney stones are formed from waste products in the blood that crystallize and build up over time to form hard lumps inside the kidneys, the organs that clean the blood. The term “kidney stones” is also used to refer to stones that form in the bladder, ureter, and urethra.
Small kidney stones pass out of the body in urine, typically without discomfort. However, larger stones can become lodged inside the urinary system. These stones can be extremely painful and can lead to infections or even kidney failure.
Presently, there is no medication capable of dissolving kidney stones inside the body. As such, surgical intervention is the only option for removing them.