Kidney Stones: what they are, what are the symptoms and treatments

 

The kidney stones are a very common disease of the urinary tract, known by the disabling pain it causes.

Knowing the symptoms and carefully controlling them is important so that an adequate therapeutic strategy can be found.

After all, it is through treatment that you can regain general well-being, affected by the presence of this pathology.

Urologist in Dwarka discusses what are the most effective methods to get rid of kidney stones.

What are Kidney Stones and why do they form?

They are hard formations (hence the term used, “stones”) resulting from the aggregation of minerals and salts present in the urine.

In fact, the correct technical designation is kidney stones. The existence of kidney stones gives rise to a condition known as Renal Lithiasis.

Although they form in the kidneys, the stones can move to another part of the urinary tract, namely the ureters and bladder.

They may have different biochemical compositions, which distinguish them: calcium (such as calcium oxalate, the most common or calcium phosphate, for example), uric acid, struvite and cystine, among others, explains the urologist in Dwarka.

It is not always possible to identify the cause of the problem, but there are some risk factors related to kidney stones that seem to increase the probability of its occurrence, such as:

• Family history of urinary lithiasis;
• Insufficient fluid intake;
• Unhealthy diets (mostly high in salt, sugar and protein);
• Obesity;
• Low urinary output;
• Pathologies in certain glands or kidneys;
• Certain medications and supplements;
• Low urinary concentration of protective elements such as citrate or magnesium (which help to inhibit stone formation).

How do they manifest?

When lodged in the kidneys, kidney stones may not cause symptoms.

However, if they move along the urinary tract, the first warning sign appears – a sudden, intense pain, usually near the flank or lumbar region, which may radiate to the abdomen or other areas such as the groin.

Known as renal colic, this pain is extremely disabling and has no relief position. It is one of the most intense pains that human beings can experience, says the urologist in Hari Nagar.

These stones may also be at the origin of other symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting;
• Increased voiding frequency, burning when urinating or sudden urge (especially when the stone is close to the bladder);
• Bloody urine (haematuria);
• Fever (which is usually an indicator of infection).

Incidence of Renal Lithiasis

It is estimated that this pathology affects between 2 to 3% of the world population, predominantly white men.

The probability of having an episode of renal colic, in patients with stones, up to 45 years of age, is around 9%, explains the urologist in Hari Nagar.

How to Treat Kidney Stones

The basis of correct treatment is making an accurate diagnosis, as kidney stone treatment in Dwarka depends on information such as the location and size of the kidney stone.

Thus, it is necessary to know the clinical history, perform an objective exam and resort to some complementary exams, namely imaging.

This assessment is essential because there are other diseases with similar symptoms, and it is essential to exclude them.

What are the options for kidney stone treatment in Hari Nagar?

In the acute phase of the disease, when pain is intense, if there are signs of infection/obstruction, urgent surgery may be necessary.

The aim is to eliminate stones, and, for this, different strategies can be followed by the urologist in Uttam Nagar.

When the stone is small and the pain is tolerable/controllable, it is possible to expect it to be spontaneously eliminated through the urethra. Various medications can be used, either to control pain or to facilitate the elimination of the stone.

When the dimensions are larger or the stones is closer to the kidneys and does not progress along the ureter, it is necessary to resort to other methods - namely surgical, even if minimally invasive.

One of the options is to carry out Extracorporeal Lithotripsy by Shockwaves (LEOC), which promotes the fragmentation of the stones, which then are naturally eliminated. Although efficient, it has some contraindications, limiting its performance.

Another method, used in most cases, is Endoscopic Surgery, which consists of ureterorenoscopy or retrograde intrarenal surgery. 

Through a semi-rigid or flexible ureteroscope, which is inserted into the urethra and bladder, the ureter is accessed, and the ureteral/kidney stones are fragmented with a laser guided by an optical fiber and removed using surgical instruments.

These procedures are extremely precise and controlled, thanks to the use of video surgery, with a camera included or attached to the ureteroscope, says the urologist in Uttam Nagar.

Endoscope procedures may vary depending on the type of calculation:

• Inside the kidney: with a flexible ureterorenoscope, through which the laser fiber passes and very small instruments (“baskets” or tweezers, for example), to remove the stones;
• In the ureter: with a semi-rigid ureteroscope, with the same type of instruments, although larger;
• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: in some cases, namely for very large stones that cannot be removed with the equipment and instruments mentioned above, the kidney is punctured from the skin of the lumbar area to introduce devices that fragment and remove the stones.

What are the results?

Endoscopic Surgery is a very efficient method at Kidney Hospital in Dwarka, with high success rates.

However, it is important to remember that Kidney Lithiasis is a disease with a tendency to relapse.

Thus, it is important to bet on preventing the formation of new stones, by changing some habits such as:

• Increase fluid intake;
• Improve eating habits;
• Monitor urine color (light-colored, almost transparent urine is a sign that it is diluted and less likely to form new stones).

Urinary Retention: how this disease can be a dangerous alert

 

The urinary retention is a common problem for men and women, and is characterized by the difficulty of completely empty and bladder, explains the best urologist in Janakpuri.

In most cases involving the male sex, retention can be a sign of diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The prostatic hyperplasia is benign prostate enlargement, which start occurs 40 and 90% for men. As the man gets older and the prostate naturally increases in size and can begin to compress the urine channel, thus making it more difficult to empty the bladder. In addition, urinary retention can cause damage to this organ and the kidneys, states the urologist in Uttam Nagar.

The treatment of enlarged prostate can be done with medications, but when it is in an advanced stage, to the point of causing urinary retention, it is necessary to perform surgery, which can be done through the urine channel. It is a little invasive procedure and the patient is discharged the next day, says the urologist in Uttam Nagar.

The robotic prostate surgery is recommended for patients who have prostate cancer, but can be used in cases of enlarged prostate, when the prostatic mass is very large and the urine canal surgery becomes more risky.

But there are still other causes that are worth analyzing carefully, which shows how important it is to seek medical assistance for the evaluation of each case specifically.

What are the characteristics of urinary retention?

The urinary retention, a condition where the bladder does not empty completely, even if it is full and can affect both men and women. But it occurs more often in men, especially as they get older.

Over the age of 70, more than 80% have a picture of an enlarged prostate, which can lead to urinary retention.

The retention is classified into two types: acute and chronic and may still have tables and different causes.

Acute Urinary Retention

In the case of acute retention, the problem appears suddenly and can become fatal, requiring you to see a urologist in Hari Nagar immediately.

The first symptoms are difficulty in urinating and a lot of pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen, more specifically, in the bladder region.

If you have any of these symptoms, the ideal is to seek medical emergency. Thus, the accumulation of urine will be released with the help of drugs and other procedures, suggests the urologist in Hari Nagar.

Chronic Urinary Retention

Already chronic urinary retention occurs for a long period of time and you may not even know that you have this condition because it has no symptoms initially.

However, over time, chronic urinary retention can lead to several complications such as:

• Need to urinate frequently, usually eight or more times a day;
• Difficulty initiating the flow of urine;
• Your urine flow is weak or starts and stops;
• Urine leaks from the bladder throughout the day;
• Right after you finish urinating, you feel that you need to urinate again;
• Slight discomfort or a feeling of fullness in the pelvis / lower abdomen.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, know what may be causing the retention and all of the resulting discomfort.

Stay tuned! Urine retention may be a symptom of more serious problems

In men and women, retention can be caused by the presence of urinary tract stones, by severe inflammation of the urethra, by urethral stenosis and even by the presence of a foreign object inserted in the urethra or by a tumor formation in the bladder or urinary tract..

In men, the main causes are related to the prostate, either due to the appearance of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate cancer, whose most recommended treatment today is robotic prostate surgery, says the urologist in Dwarka.

After all, this type of surgery is less invasive and promotes the patient’s recovery more quickly.

It is worth concluding that urinary retention is an easy disease to diagnose. But, if it is not diagnosed and treated correctly, it can bring serious complications to your health.

This is especially true if retention is associated with prostate cancer, one of the types of cancer that kills men the most today.

So, become aware! Seek professional medical help and be sure to have routine tests such as blood tests, ultrasound and rectal examination, which can alert you to your urinary and prostate health, advices the urologist in Delhi.

Kidney Stones: Treatments and Recommendations

 

Kidney stones are hard deposits of salts and minerals that form in the kidneys. The vast majority of these correspond to calcium salts and depending on each patient, their size and shape will vary.

The urologist in Hari Nagar explains, this pathology can produce sudden onset pain that, generally, is of great intensity and begins in the lumbar area on one side, radiates to the lower abdomen and, on occasions, to the lower back. genitals. Also, it can be accompanied by a feeling of nausea, anxiety and sweating, in addition, it can cause darkening of the urine and urinary symptoms, such as pain when urinating and increased frequency of urination.

The risk of not treating kidney stones adequately can be associated with the risk of developing infections of varying severity in a poorly drained urinary tract and can cause kidney function to be reversibly or irreversibly impaired. If the obstruction is temporary or remains long-term, there is even a risk of causing kidney loss, says the urologist in Hari Nagar.

How to relieve kidney stone pain?

There are various types of treatments for kidney stones and these range from medical management to surgical management.

According to the urologist in Uttam Nagar, the main objective of medical treatment is to relieve pain for patients, since, as mentioned above, it can be very intense.

This treatment will vary according to the characteristics of each patient, which will be determined with an imaging study that should be performed as soon as possible. According to urologist in Uttam Nagar, the most effective is Pielotac (non-contrast computed axial tomography) and according to this result, the urologist in charge must decide on the conduct of medical treatment.

Likewise, he adds that it is extremely relevant to consult and not self-medicate, since there is the possibility that the stone that is causing the obstruction of the ureter may stop hurting, which would lead to the patient thinking that the problem is solved and stop consult a specialist, with the risk of being left with a chronic obstruction and deteriorating kidney function.

Regarding home remedies for kidney colic, the specialist assures that they are inefficient, since there are no studies that support practices such as taking pineapple juice, coconut water or other herbs to facilitate its elimination. However, if the stone is small, it is thought that it is likely to be spontaneously expelled. Likewise, abundant fluid intake can help, but this should be indicated once the intense and acute pain has subsided.

The urologist in Dwarka is emphatic when commenting that the prevention of kidney stones is of the utmost importance and the fundamental pillar of this is the abundant intake of fluids (enough to urinate two liters a day), which must be accompanied by certain eating habits and physical activity.

Surgery for kidney stones

The kidney stone treatment in Hari Nagar for removing a stone that is in the ureter will depend a lot on its size. If it is less than five millimeters, it has an 80% chance of being expelled spontaneously, but this percentage decreases dramatically if the stone is greater than seven millimeters, to less than 20%, says the urologist in Dwarka.

So, in the same way, the most indicated surgery for each kidney stone will vary depending on its size.

When it comes to small kidney stones, that is, less than two centimeters, retrograde intrarenal surgery is the most indicated. The calculations of patients who wish to undergo this surgery must also meet other requirements related to its density, location, shape, size and quantity.

The main benefits of this technique are that it is a well-tolerated, minimally invasive surgery, which can be ambulatory or short-term in the clinic.

On the other hand, when kidney stones are larger, generally greater than two centimeters, or when they occupy a large part of the kidney’s excretory pathway (staghorn calculus), or have failed other less invasive methods, renal surgery is recommended for kidney stone treatment in Uttam Nagar.