What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are crystallized minerals that form in the kidney. The condition of having kidney stones is also called Ureteroliasis. Stones can sometimes be small enough to pass through the ureter through the urinary tract while others usually 2-3 millimeters can block the ureter. Causes of kidney stones can come from many factors such as gender, age, some metabolic conditions or family histories, diets, or as recurring conditions of kidney stones.

Males are four times more likely to get kidney stones than females. Treatments of kidney stones can be surgical or non-surgical treatments. Sometimes just drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day could be enough to flush out the kidney stones if they are less than 5mm. A common surgical treatment for kidney stones is percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for non-surgical treatments.

Causes of Kidney Stones

Causes of kidney stones can come from many factors such as gender, age, some metabolic conditions or family histories, diets, or as recurring conditions of kidney stones. Males are four times more likely to get kidney stones than females. Having a diet with a lot of protein can also increase the likelihood of developing kidney stones. People with conditions such as renal tubular acidosis, dent’s disease, hyperparathyroidism, or medullary sponge kidney also have a higher chance of developing kidney stones.

Treatments of Kidney Stones

Treatments of Kidney Stones can be surgical or non-surgical treatments. Sometimes just drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day could be enough to flush out the kidney stones if they are less than 5mm. A common surgical treatment for kidney stones is percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for non-surgical treatments.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PNCL)

Percuteneous Nephrolithotomy (PNCL) is surgery that is used to remove large kidney stones. It requires a small incision in the patient’s back and and the insertion of a telescopic probe instrument called a nephroscope to pull out or break up the stones with laser beams or shock waves. After this procedure, a patient advised not to drive, drink alcohol, sign legal documents, or operate on heavy machinery because it could cause dizziness and affect motor and reasoning skills. It is usually a choice for when the stone is very big and ESWL does not provide a satisfactory result.

Ureteroscopy

Inureteroscopy, a thin telescopic probe is inserted into the urinary tract to break or remove the stone where it is often used to move stones from kidney to the ureter.