Kidney stone removal, at least, has four procedures / techniques:

1.  Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy ( ESWL )

Kidney stone removal of ESWL uses non-electrical shock waves that are produced out of the body to pass through the skin and body tissues until the shockwaves hit the solid stones.  The stones turn out to be sand-like and are passed. 

For removal of this procedure, patient acre located in a tub of warm, sterilized water or onto water cushion machine that operates as a means for passing on these non-electrical shockwaves. 

2.  Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy ( PNL )

Different from removal strategy discussed above, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is regularly utilized when the stone is very large or in a spot that does not permit efficient use of ESWL. 

In this procedure of kidney stone removal, the surgeon makes a unimportant incision in the back and makes a tunnel straight away into the kidney.  By way of an instrument called a nephroscope, the stone is positioned and removed.  For large stones, an energy probe (ultrasonic or electro hydraulic) maybe required to break down the stone into smaller pieces for removal. 

The benefit of this procedure over lithotripsy is the physical removal of the stone fragments rather than relying on their natural passage from the kidney to the outside. 

3.  Ureteroscopic Stone Removal

Ureteroscopic stone removal is realized by passing a little fiberoptic instrument ( an ureteroscope ) through the urethra and bladder into the ureter.  The surgeon afterward finds the stone and either removes it with a cage-like tool or breaks it with a specific instrument that creates a sort of shockwave.  A tiny tube ( or stent ) presumably left in the ureter for at least a couple of days after treatment to assist the liner of the ureter to cure. 

This removal process is operated under common anesthesia to treat stones found in the middle and lower ureter.  Small stones are removed and massive stones are broken by a laser or similar gizmo. 

4.  Open ( incisional ) Surgery

This last removal technique for kidney stone includes opening the affected area and removing the stone ( s ).  In this process, run in an operating room after a person has been given anesthesia, the surgeon creates an incision in the skin and unlocks the pelvis of the kidney or the ureter so that the stone can be manually removed. 

For a lot more How To Get Rid Of Kidney Stones see this page on How To Pass A Kidney Stone