When to Consider Surgery for Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones are a common ailment and affect around 1 million people in India every year. These are deposits of minerals especially calcium oxalate and other compounds. They have a crystalline structure and can sometimes grow up to be the size of a golf ball. Kidney stones usually affect men more than they affect women and usually develop between the age of 30 and 50.
What causes kidney stones?
The chief cause of kidney stones is lack of hydration. People who drink fewer than eight glasses of water every day are more likely to develop kidney stones. When there is not enough uric acid, our urine becomes acidic and this triggers the formation of stones in kidneys. Sometimes, other medical conditions like Crohn’s disease or urinary tract infection can cause kidney stones.
Certain medicines that are used for the treatment of seizures, migraine and vitamin supplements may also lead to the formation of kidney stones.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Kidney stones are accompanied by the following symptoms-
-
Fever and shivering
-
Extreme pain in the groin
-
Bleeding and a burning sensation when you urinate
When do you need surgery?
Kidney stones usually do not need surgery. The body gets rid of stones of 6 mm diameter or less by passing them from the kidneys, through the urethra. However, sometimes, even the small stones are stuck and they block the passage connecting the kidneys to the bladder. This blockage does not allow urine to flow into the bladder. If urine builds up, the body cannot flush out the toxic waste and the situation can become very grave. Blockages are common if the stones are large. This is when surgery becomes vital.
Sometimes, even if the stones do not block the passage, the very presence of them can cause unrelenting and extreme pain. They even lead to frequent urinary tract infections, despite medication. This makes it vital to have a more permanent solution.
What are the types of kidney stone surgeries?
-
Short wave lithotripsy
-
Open surgery.
Your doctor will decide which type of surgery is ideal for you based on the size of the kidney stones and your medical history.
+1.svg)
