Kidney stones (also called renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis) are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside our kidneys. Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage to kidneys if they're recognized and managed well in time.
A kidney stone usually will not cause symptoms until it moves around within the kidney or passes into one of the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder.
If a kidney stone becomes lodged in the ureters, it may block the flow of urine and cause the kidney to swell and the ureter to spasm, which can be very painful. At that point, you may experience these symptoms:
Here are some factors which may alleviate the chances of kidney stone –Seek immediate medical attention to a urologist, if you have any of the above symptoms.
Risk factorsFactors that increase your risk of developing kidney stones include:
Treatment for kidney stones varies, depending on the type of stone and the cause.
Most small kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by:
Kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own or cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections may require more-extensive treatment. Procedures may include:
1. Semirigid Ureteroscopy (URS) / Flexible Ureteroscopy (RIRS)To remove a smaller stone in your ureter or kidney, Urologist may pass a thin lighted tube equipped with a camera through your urethra and bladder to your ureter or kidney
Once the stone is located, special lasers are used to break it into pieces that will pass in your urine. A small tube (DJ stent) is placed in the ureter to relieve swelling and promote healing.
2. PCNLSurgery to remove very large stones in the kidney. A procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) involves surgically removing a kidney stone using small telescopes and instruments inserted through a small incision in your back.
These procedures are done under anesthesia, and are absolutely painless. Patients can move the very next day of surgery and are able to to all their activities.
DJ stents must be removed in 2 to 3 weeks time depending on surgeons preference and type of surgery.