KIDNEY STONES

KIDNEY STONES

What Is A Kidney Stone?

Kidney stone is a hard stone like mass in the kidney. Certain chemicals in the urine form crystals that adhere to each other giving rise to the kidney stone. Kidney stones can be of various shapes and sizes.

Larger stones may block the flow of urine or irritate the lining of the urinary tract. Stones can injure kidneys and reduce their function.

Normal Kidneys

Our kidneys are our body’s filters, removing dangerous waste products from our body. Normally when blood is pumped into the kidneys.

As the blood flows through the millions of tiny vessels inside the kidneys, waste products and are removed and become a part of the urine.

All essential components in the blood are retained inside the blood. Urine is accumulated in the bladder and eventually thrown out of the body.

What Are the Different Types of Kidney Stones?

Stone can vary greatly in size and shape.

Based on the size they can be classified into-

Small sized
Medium sized
Large sized

Based on the shape they can be classified into-

Smooth stone

Jagged stone

Staghorn stone


Stones are also classified based on their composition. Stones can be made of-

Calcium oxalate

Cystine

Uric acid

Infection

Most of the stones form in the kidney. Some of the stones then travel to the ureters or the bladder. At these sites they may further grow in size.

Why Do Kidney Stones Form?

The exact reason for formation of kidney stones is not clear. Healthy kidneys function as filter and help excrete the dissolved chemicals in the blood that are unwanted by the body into the urine. If certain chemicals build up in the kidney, then these can form stone.

Certain factors that have been identified as risk factor are-

Drinking too little fluid

Chronic urinary tract infection

Family history

Past history of kidney stone

Kidney stones affect mainly young and middle aged adults. They are more common in males.

How Do I Suspect Kidney Stones?

Some kidney stones may be silent. But most of the stones do produce some symptoms.

Common symptoms are-

Severe pain:

This is of sudden origin. The pain is severe. It usually starts in the lower abdomen and it passes to the sides and groin. The pain may last for few minutes to few hours and then it disappears.

• Burning during urination
• Blood in urine
• Nausea, vomiting
• Fever, weakness
• Cloudy urine

What Are the Investigations Required?

Consultant asks for a detail history. He then conducts physical examination. Various investigations that he may ask for are-

• Blood tests
• Urine examination
• Urine culture
• X-ray - kidney, ureter, bladder
• Intravenous pyelography (X-ray of kidney, ureter, bladder after injection of a dye)
• Ultrasonography

What Is the Treatment
for Kidney Stones?

There are various modes of treatment for kidney stones.


Expectant Therapy:

Many of the stones pass naturally. For this some simple measures become useful. During this therapy patient is advised to drink a lot of water.
This excess of fluid helps to flush out your kidneys.

Medications:

Some of the stones can be dissolved with the help of medicines. These medicines are to be taken for lifetime.


If these majors are not of help for kidney stones then there are different methods used for removal of the stones. These methods are-

ESWL treatment-

ESWL means Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy. In this technique high-energy shock waves are used to breakdown stones into smaller fragments. This procedure takes about an hour and with this stone fragments are passed within a few weeks.

Other surgical methods used are-

• Removal through ureter
• Lithotripsy with a small incision
• Open surgery

What Are the Complications of Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones if left untreated, can cause kidney obstruction and kidney damage.

Can I Prevent Recurrence of Kidney Stones?

With the consultant’s advice, one can help reduce the risk of development of new stones. In general patient is advised to drink lots of water every day. This helps dilute the chemicals that from kidney stones.

In addition doctor may prescribe the diet. If he does, then one has to follow it religiously. If medicines are prescribed then these have to be taken regularly. Follow-up visits are important.

ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR