THIS is with reference to the report ‘Lack of kidney stone removal procedure at hospitals adds to patients woes’ (Sept 18), which stated that patients were seeking endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for kidney stone removal and that the C-Arm machine was not available at most hospitals. This appears to be a medical terminology error.
ERCP is primarily used for the diagnosis and removal of stones from the common bile duct (biliary stones), and not kidney stones, which are managed through urological procedures, such as retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) and, in selected cases, laparoscopic, robotic or open surgery, depending on the stone’s size, location and complexity. This distinction is important because patients may be misled about where and how kidney stones are treated.
Dr Adeel Anwaar
Lahore
Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2026
