The Kidney Stone Survival Guide: Expert Advice for Optimal Management and Prevention

The Kidney Stone Survival Guide: Expert Advice for Optimal Management and Prevention is a complete roadmap to understanding, treating, and preventing one of the most painful and misunderstood conditions in modern medicine; kidney stones.

Written by internationally recognized urologists with decades of clinical and surgical experience, this guide blends cutting-edge medical research, clear patient education, and practical lifestyle strategies into one accessible volume.

Inside you'll discover:

• Why kidney stones form and the underlying risk factors including diet, hydration, and genetics.
• Different types of stones-calcium oxalate, uric acid, cystine, and struvite-and what makes each unique.
• Evidence-based treatments ranging from shockwave therapy and ureteroscopy to minimally invasive surgical options.
• Powerful prevention strategies with detailed guidance on hydration, diet, and stone-free living.
• Patient-first insights into pain management, imaging choices, and how to avoid unnecessary procedures.
• Holistic and alternative approaches that complement medical care and improve long-term outcomes.

This isn't just another medical manual. It is a compassionate, easy-to-understand survival guide that empowers readers to take charge of their health, ask the right questions, and adopt practical steps to stay stone-free for life. With illustrations, real-world examples, and myth-busting clarity, it transforms overwhelming science into actionable knowledge.

Whether you're a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this book will help you:

• Reduce fear and confusion around kidney stone disease.
• Gain confidence in choosing the right treatments.
• Protect your kidneys and overall well-being through simple, daily changes.

A kidney stone can feel like a life-stopping crisis, but it doesn't have to define your future. With this guide, you'll find the knowledge and tools to move from pain to prevention, crisis to control, and stones to strength.

Dr. Jaime Landman serves as Chair of the Department of Urology at the University of California, Irvine. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his residency atMount Sinai Hospital in New York. Following advanced training in minimally invasive urology at Washington University in St. Louis under Dr. Ralph Clayman, he joined the faculty there before leading the Division of Minimally Invasive Urology at Columbia University. Dr. Landman has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles and currently co-edits the Journal of Endourology. He has performed more than 3,000 minimally invasive kidney stone procedures and is internationally recognized for his contributions to surgical innovation and mentorship.

Dr. Andrew Afyouni is a resident physician in the Department of Urology at the University of California, Irvine. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Biomedical Research from the University of California, Los Angeles, and earned his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. Under the mentorship of Drs. Jaime Landman and Ralph Clayman, Dr. Afyouni has developed a strong foundation in clinical researchand a commitment to patient-centered care.

Dr. Ralph V. Clayman is a Distinguished Professor of Urology and Dean Emeritus at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He initiated the first fellowship program in Endourology and has trained over 35 fellows who now hold leadership positions in academic urology. Dr. Clayman performed the world's first laparoscopic kidney removal in 1990 and was part of the team that conducted the first laparoscopic prostatectomy in 1991. Heco-founded the Endourology Society and the Journal of Endourology, serving as co-editor for 34 years. With 23 patents and over 490 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Clayman continues to contribute to the field through clinical practice and research in urolithiasis.