Kidney stones treatment without surgery
Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. These develop from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. If the crystals remain small, they can travel through the urinary tract and pass out unnoticed while urinating. However, if the crystals accumulate and form a large stone or stones, they can impair the function of the kidneys that can obstruct the flow of urine and cause excruciating pain. In cases like these, treatment should be done. If left untreated, kidneys may be permanently damaged by an obstructing stone in only a few days.
Diet, dehydration (not drinking enough water when doing manual labor or indulging in sport), and family history are just a few of the reasons why stones occur.
The common symptoms of stone disease are sharp pain in the abdomen or lower back, fever, blood in the urine, and pain when urinating.
Kidney stones can be treated through surgery, the most common form of treatment. Surgery is painful, leaves a scar, and requires a long recovery period — about four to six weeks. Lithotripsy or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is the therapy of choice. This non-invasive technique uses shock waves instead of a knife to remove the stones from the kidney and urinary tract. The shockwaves pass harmlessly through body tissues. When the shock waves strike the kidney stone, cracks appear in the kidney stone’s surface. After about one hour, the stone is pulverized. The fragments pass out naturally during urination for a number of days or even weeks after lithotripsy.
Lithotripsy uses a simple device called a lithotripter. The physician localizes and then focuses shock waves directly on the stone. The lithotripter is very precise, delivering the right amount of energy to break the stone without damaging organs or surrounding tissues. The treatment usually consists of several thousand shocks which break the stone into very small fragments. These fragments are passed spontaneously during urination. The procedure usually lasts about one hour and is performed on an outpatient (OPD) basis. Re-treatment may be necessary in some cases to completely disintegrate larger stones.
The procedure is safe and performed worldwide with excellent results. It is non-invasive and conducted under the supervision of a highly-trained physician and technician. Occasional side effects are bruising around the treatment area, blood in urine, and pain for a few days following lithotripsy. While most people can undergo lithotripsy, inform your doctor if you have high blood pressure, a blood clotting disorder, or a urinary tract infection. Pregnant women must not undergo lithotripsy. To date, over 25,000 patients have been treated in the Philippines in the last 15 years with stone-free rates ranging from 70 to 100 percent, depending on the stone burden, location, and number of treatments.
For more information on non-surgical kidney stone treatment and related concerns, call De Los Santos Medical Center Stone Center at 723-0041-54 local 127 and 129 or direct line 726-3572 from Monday to Friday. source
Kidney stones treatment without surgery
what causes kidney stones
what causes kidney stones
Men are four times more likely to get kidney stones than women, and if you have previously had a kidney stone then you will have a 50 percent chance of developing another one within five years. Most people have no predisposing factors to explain why they develop kidney stones. You may have an increased risk of developing kidney stones if you:
1, have a family history of kidney stones
2, are aged between 20 and 50
3, are taking certain medicines - for example indinavir (in the treatment of HIV infection) and taking too many laxatives or taking them too often
4, have only one kidney, or an abnormally shaped kidney
5, eat a diet high in protein
6, don't drink enough fluids
Diagnosis of kidney stones
Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history. Your GP may do further tests to confirm the diagnosis and to show the size, location and type of your kidney stone. These include:
blood tests - to identify excess amounts of certain chemicals which cause kidney stones
urine analysis - to look for signs of infection
taking an X-ray image - stones that contain calcium usually show up white on X-ray images
intravenous urogram (IVU) - injection of a special dye that shows up the whole urinary system and any stones on X-ray images; or a CT (computed tomography) scan - this uses X-rays to make a three-dimensional image of the area
ultrasound scan - this uses high frequency sound waves to produce an image of the internal organs
Treatment of kidney stones
Your treatment will depend on the type and cause of your kidney stone. Most stones can be treated without surgery. If you drink a lot of water (two and a half to three litres per day) and stay physically active, this is often enough to remove stones smaller than about 5mm from your body. Your GP may then prescribe medicines to reduce the pain.
Your GP may ask you to catch the kidney stone by passing your urine through filter paper or a tea strainer. The stone can then be analysed to find out what type it is, to help guide your treatment.
If you have a kidney stone that hasn't passed out of the body within one to two months, it's unlikely to pass without treatment.
