Kidney Stone Treatment in Miami

Most kidney stones pass on their own with the right support. Some need a procedure. A few are emergencies. Dr. Gheiler treats all three situations in Hialeah, in English and Spanish — and then does the part most patients never get: figuring out why you form stones, so there isn’t a next one.

When a stone is an emergency

If stone pain comes with fever or chills, go to the ER now: that combination suggests infection behind a blockage and can turn dangerous in hours. Also urgent on their own, even without fever: vomiting that won’t stop (you can’t stay hydrated) and being unable to urinate. None of that is managed at home.

How we treat stones

Let it pass, with support. Smaller stones usually pass; medication can relax the ureter and speed it up, with pain control and a follow-up plan, so “waiting” never means “ignoring.”
Shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Outpatient and incision-free: focused sound waves break the stone so the fragments pass.
Ureteroscopy with laser. Through the natural urinary channel, no incision; the stone is broken with a laser and the fragments removed.
Percutaneous surgery (PCNL) for very large or complex stones, planned individually for your anatomy.

Surgery is performed at the affiliated surgical center; consultations and follow-up are at the Hialeah office.

Preventing the next stone

If you’ve had one stone, the odds of another within 5 to 10 years are about 50% — and that risk is movable. A metabolic workup (24-hour urine collection, stone analysis) shows why you form stones, so prevention is targeted instead of guessed. The universal fix is hydration: enough fluid to urinate 2 to 2.5 liters a day, more in Miami heat. Prefiere leer en español: ¿es posible la muerte por cálculos renales?

Frequently asked questions

Do all kidney stones need surgery?

No. Most smaller stones pass on their own with hydration, pain control, and medication that relaxes the ureter. A procedure becomes the right choice when a stone is too large to pass, is blocking the kidney, or the pain and vomiting cannot be managed.

When is a kidney stone an emergency?

When stone pain comes with fever or chills: that suggests infection behind a blockage and belongs in the ER immediately. Vomiting that will not stop and being unable to urinate are also urgent on their own.

What is the difference between shock-wave lithotripsy and ureteroscopy?

Shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) breaks the stone from outside the body with focused sound waves, no incision, and the fragments pass afterward. Ureteroscopy reaches the stone through the natural urinary channel and breaks it with a laser, removing the fragments right away. The right choice depends on the stone’s size, position, and hardness.

How do I prevent another kidney stone?

Drink enough fluid to urinate 2 to 2.5 liters a day, and get a metabolic workup: a 24-hour urine collection and stone analysis show why you form stones, so prevention is targeted instead of guessed.

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Treat the stone, then prevent the next one

Consultations in Hialeah, in English and Spanish. We verify your insurance first.

Private and confidential from your first call: these are problems our office treats every day, with discretion and respect.

Call (305) 822-7227