Comprehensive kidney stone care in Kuala Lumpur, from diagnosis to treatment.
Dr Ambikai Balan Sothinathan, Consultant Urologist at Pantai Hospital KL, offers PCNL, URS/RIRS, and ESWL.
Urology Is More Than
Treating Conditions,
It’s About Improving Lives.
Kidney Stones: A Complete Guide
Kidney stones are one of the most common urological conditions, affecting roughly 1 in 10 people at some point in their life. They form when minerals and salts in the urine crystallise and stick together, creating a hard deposit that can sit in the kidney or move through the urinary tract.
Some stones pass on their own without any treatment. Others grow large enough to block the flow of urine, causing severe pain and, if left untreated, damage to the kidney itself. Knowing what to watch for and understanding your treatment options if a stone is found. makes the difference between a manageable inconvenience and a medical emergency.
Understanding Kidney Stones
Stones develop when urine becomes concentrated enough that minerals like calcium, oxalate, or uric acid crystallise instead of staying dissolved. Common contributing factors include:
Malaysia’s climate makes dehydration-related stone formation particularly common, a factor worth understanding if you’ve had a stone before, as it directly affects your risk of forming another.
Understanding Kidney Stones
The most common symptom is a sudden, severe pain in the back or side, often radiating toward the lower abdomen or groin. Other signs include blood in the urine, a persistent urge to urinate, pain during urination, and nausea.
(Pink, Red, or Brown discoloration)
Left untreated, kidney stones can cause infections, kidney damage, or repeated stone formation. Early treatment can save you from unnecessary pain and complications.
Kidney stones are diagnosed through imaging, usually an ultrasound or a CT scan, combined with a review of your symptoms and urine tests.
The size, location, and composition of the stone all influence which treatment is most appropriate.
Ultrasound or CT imaging to locate the stone
Review of your symptoms and medical history
Urine and blood tests to assess stone type
Treating Kidney Stones
Not every stone needs surgery, and not every treatment is the same. Dr Balan offers the full range of modern stone treatments, matched to your specific case.
A scarless, scope-based approach for stones in the kidney or ureter.
A non-invasive option using focused shockwaves, suitable for smaller stones.
Recovery and stone prevention matter as much as the treatment itself roughly half of people who form one stone will form another if nothing changes.
What to Expect – 4 Step Patient Journey
Take the first step towards better urological health with a personalized consultation with Dr.Balan.
Why Choose Us
Meet Dr. Balan
MBBS (Manipal); Msc(Surg) HUKM; FRCS(Uro) Glasgow; MBU Cert; Fellowship in Urology (QEH, Adelaide, S.Australia)
Dr Balan is a Consultant Urologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur with over 12 years of specialist experience, holding the FRCS (Urology) from the Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow, and advanced uro-oncology training from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide.
He treats stone disease using the full range of modern surgical and non-surgical techniques, tailored to what’s actually right for your stone, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of a kidney stone, or have already been diagnosed and want to understand your treatment options, book a consultation to discuss the right path forward.
Approachable, Compassionate, and Committed
delivering high-quality, patient-focused care.
Over 20 Years of Expert Surgical Care
Personalised, Compassionate Approach
State-of-the-Art Facilities at Pantai Hospital KL
Advanced & Modern Techniques used across Urological and Uro-Oncology Conditions
Trusted by Patients & Peers Alike
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