RIRS Surgery in Nagpur: Free Kidney Stone Treatment Under Ayushman Bharat (2026)

Kidney-stone admissions in Nagpur rise sharply every May and June. The cause is simple: heat, dehydration, and concentrated urine. The treatment, fortunately, is far simpler than it used to be. Modern nephrology and urology teams now use RIRS — Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery — a laser procedure that removes stones with no skin incision, in under 90 minutes, with same-day or next-day discharge. At Hope Hospital, Nagpur, RIRS is fully covered under Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) for eligible cardholders.

Why kidney stones spike in summer in Nagpur

In Nagpur and across central India, kidney-stone admissions consistently rise during the hottest months. The mechanism is straightforward — when you sweat more and drink less, urine becomes concentrated, and minerals like calcium, oxalate, and uric acid crystallize into stones. Nagpur regularly sees daytime highs above 42°C in May–June, putting outdoor workers, farmers, drivers, and anyone without consistent water access at elevated risk.

Studies from Indian urology centres show kidney-stone incidence is up to 30% higher in summer than in winter. The pain often appears suddenly — a sharp, gripping ache in the lower back or side that can radiate to the lower abdomen and groin. The good news: modern procedures like RIRS make stone removal a same-day procedure, and at Hope Hospital it is covered free under Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) for eligible cardholders.

What is RIRS?

RIRS stands for Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery — a modern, minimally invasive laser procedure for removing kidney stones. Unlike older open surgery, RIRS requires no external cuts. The urologist passes a thin, flexible ureteroscope through the natural urinary tract — from the urethra, through the bladder, and into the ureter — until it reaches the kidney where the stone is lodged. A small holmium-YAG laser fibre is then used to fragment the stone into pieces small enough to be flushed out naturally or removed with a basket.

The procedure typically takes 45 to 90 minutes under spinal or general anaesthesia. Most patients are discharged within 24 hours. A temporary ureteric stent is placed for 1–2 weeks afterwards to help drainage; it is removed in a brief outpatient procedure. Because there are no incisions, recovery is fast — most people return to work within a week.

RIRS is particularly well-suited for stones in the upper ureter, renal pelvis, and lower-pole calyces — locations that are harder to reach with shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL). It is also the preferred choice for stones in patients on blood thinners or with bleeding disorders, since there are no incisions to bleed from. See our full RIRS coverage details under Ayushman Bharat for package specifics.

RIRS vs PCNL vs ESWL — which is right for you?

Three modern kidney-stone procedures dominate Indian urology practice, each suited to a different stone size and location:

Procedure	Best For	Anaesthesia	Hospital Stay	Approx Ayushman Package
ESWL (Lithotripsy)	Small stones (<1 cm) in kidney	None / sedation	Day procedure	Rs. 10,000 – 20,000
RIRS (Laser)	Medium stones (1–2 cm), upper-tract, complex	Spinal / General	1–2 days	Rs. 30,000 – 65,000
PCNL (Percutaneous)	Large stones (>2 cm), staghorn	General	3–5 days	Rs. 35,000 – 65,000

ESWL is the least invasive — shock waves from outside the body break the stone into fragments that pass naturally in urine over the following days. It works only for small, accessible stones; success rate drops sharply for stones above 1.5 cm or those lodged in the lower pole.

RIRS is the middle option — keyhole through the natural tract, no skin incision, ideal for 1–2 cm stones. Highest success rate for upper-tract and complex stones. Recovery is rapid because nothing is cut from the outside.

PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy) is used for large or staghorn stones — the surgeon makes a small skin incision in the back to access the kidney directly. Higher clearance rate for big stones, but requires a longer hospital stay.

The right procedure depends on stone size, location, density (Hounsfield units on CT), and patient anatomy. At Hope Hospital, our urology team uses a CT scan to map the stone, then recommends the right procedure — never one-size-fits-all. All three are covered under Ayushman Bharat for eligible cardholders.

Free RIRS under Ayushman Bharat at Hope Hospital

Hope Hospital, Nagpur is empaneled under Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) and the Maharashtra MJPJAY scheme. Eligible cardholders receive complete RIRS treatment at zero out-of-pocket cost. The Ayushman package covers:

• Pre-procedure investigations — CT scan (KUB), urine and blood tests, ECG
• The RIRS procedure — surgeon, anaesthesia, OR time, laser equipment
• Hospital stay (typically 1–2 days)
• Temporary ureteric stent insertion and removal
• Post-operative medication (pain relief, antibiotics)
• Follow-up consultation and stone-analysis report

The Ayushman Bharat package amount for RIRS in Nagpur (Tier-2 rates) is Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 65,000 depending on stone size, laterality (one side vs both), and any additional stenting required. Hope Hospital's dedicated PMJAY desk verifies your card on the spot, processes pre-authorization, and handles cashless admission — no paperwork burden on the patient.

Related stone procedures also covered under PMJAY at Hope Hospital:

• ESWL Lithotripsy: Rs. 10,000–20,000
• PCNL (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy): Rs. 35,000–65,000
• Ureteroscopy with laser
• Stent removal/replacement

For the complete list of urology procedures and other Ayushman packages across specialties, see our Ayushman Bharat surgery list guide. Hope Hospital has been NABH-accredited since 2012 and partners with NephroPlus, India's largest dialysis network. The urology team works alongside our nephrology department with 24/7 ICU coverage and an in-house pathology lab for stone composition analysis. Pre-existing kidney stones are covered from day 1 of card issuance — no waiting period under PMJAY.

Warning signs you shouldn't ignore

Kidney stones often announce themselves dramatically, but smaller stones can quietly cause damage before the first pain attack. See a doctor if you notice any of the following:

• Severe pain in the lower back or side — often called renal colic. May radiate to the lower abdomen and groin. Comes in waves.
• Blood in the urine — visible pink, red, or brown, or microscopic on tests
• Pain when urinating or a constant urge to urinate
• Cloudy, foul-smelling urine — may indicate infection alongside the stone
• Nausea and vomiting during the pain episode
• Fever and chills — emergency: stone with infection is a urological emergency
• Difficulty passing urine or significantly reduced flow

If pain is severe and accompanied by fever, go to emergency immediately — an obstructed kidney with infection can lead to sepsis within hours. Hope Hospital's 24/7 emergency department is equipped to handle stone-related urological emergencies. You can also check our complete guide to kidney stones for symptom checklists and home pain-management while you reach the hospital.

How to prevent kidney stones in summer

Most kidney stones are preventable with consistent habits. In Nagpur summer especially:

1. Drink 3–4 litres of water daily. Pale yellow urine is the target. Drink more before, during, and after time spent outdoors.
2. Add lemon, lime, or orange to your water. Citric acid binds calcium in urine and prevents stone formation. A glass of lemon water twice a day is genuinely protective.
3. Eat less salt. Indian diets are often high in salt (pickles, papads, processed snacks). High sodium increases calcium excretion, which feeds stone formation.
4. Moderate animal protein. Excessive red meat, chicken, or fish increases uric acid stones. Balance with plant proteins.
5. Don't avoid calcium. A common mistake. Dietary calcium binds oxalate in the gut and reduces stone risk. Stay at 1,000–1,200 mg daily from dairy or curd.
6. Reduce high-oxalate foods if you've had stones before: spinach, beetroot, peanuts, chocolate, tea. Don't eliminate — just moderate.
7. Treat UTIs promptly. Untreated urinary infections can lead to struvite stones.
8. If you've had a stone before, get an annual ultrasound. Recurrence is common — early detection prevents another full attack.

When to see a nephrologist or urologist

Most patients first present to general practitioners or emergency rooms. Referral to a specialist team (nephrologist or urologist) is appropriate if:

• You have a stone confirmed on imaging (ultrasound, CT, X-ray)
• Pain doesn't settle with medication within 24 hours
• You have fever alongside the pain (emergency)
• You've had recurrent stones — 3 or more in your lifetime
• You have only one functioning kidney
• The stone is larger than 5 mm (unlikely to pass spontaneously)
• You have a known metabolic disorder or abnormal kidney function tests

At Hope Hospital, the urology team and nephrology team work together — diagnosis through procedure through follow-up — under one roof. For patients eligible under PMJAY, the cost is handled entirely by the Ayushman package.

Frequently Asked Questions

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