The formation of calculi in the kidneys is a fairly common problem. Similar structures can have different sizes, shapes and compositions. This pathology is quite dangerous, because neoplasms often block the urinary tract, preventing the elimination of fluid from the body. It is in such cases that crushing of stones in the ureter is necessary.
Of course, faced with the need for such a procedure, patients are looking for any additional information. So how does the stones in the ureter crush? What methods does modern medicine offer? Are there any contraindications to such a procedure? How long is the rehabilitation period? Answers to these questions will be useful to many.
Kidney stones: symptoms
Urolithiasis is a fairly common disease, which is accompanied by the formation of solid calculi of various shapes and sizes. The composition of the stones may also vary - the formations contain urate, oxalates, phosphates, calcium salts.
Calculi tend to increase in size and move along the urinary tract, injuring the tissue. Large stones can lead to deformation of the kidney, as well as partially or completely clog the ureter, which provokes the development of renal colic.
A similar pathology is accompanied by very characteristic symptoms. Patients complain of sharp and sharp pains in the lower back, lower abdomen. Sometimes soreness extends to the external genitalia (scrotum, vulva). Symptoms of renal colic include weakness, severe nausea, fever. Sharp pain during urination is noted. Urine becomes cloudy, sometimes it contains small grains of sand and blood. With obstruction of the urinary tract, false urge to empty the bladder may occur, a sharp decrease in the daily amount of urine.
In such cases, you can not hesitate - you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Stone Removal Methods
Modern medicine offers several methods of treating pathologies associated with the formation of kidney stones:
- Therapeutic treatment - is carried out using special preparations and decoctions of medicinal herbs. This technique is effective only if the formed stones are small.
- Large stones are removed by lithotripsy. This is a minimally invasive technique, which consists in crushing the formed calculi, the particles of which are then excreted from the body in a natural way. The destruction of stones can be carried out using a laser beam or ultrasonic waves.
- Surgical removal is rare. The procedure is effective in case of the formation of large stones.
Doctors choose the appropriate method of treatment based on the patient's age, size and composition of calculi, the presence of concomitant diseases.
Conservative treatments
Drugs and herbs are selected depending on the composition of the stones. For example, with the formation of urate calculi, effective drugs are Cystenal, Uranil, and Blemaren. Decoctions from dill seeds, parsley, birch leaves, and horsetail grass will be useful. Sometimes, against the background of such therapy, a sharp increase in the level of uric acid in the blood is observed. In such cases, patients are additionally prescribed benzobromarone or allopurinol.
In the presence of calculi formed from calcium and phosphate salts, such preparations as Fitolizin and Kanefron are used. As for medicinal herbs, some doctors recommend taking decoctions of burdock, madder, calamus, parsley, bearberry, lingonberry.
If the stones consist of oxalates, then the intake of “Cyston” and “Fitolizin” will be effective. Helps to cope with the problem of decoction of knotweed, corn stigmas, dill, baked mint.
The goal of conservative therapy is to dissolve calculi. You cannot use decoctions of herbs and medicines on your own - first you need to diagnose and determine the composition of the stones. Unfortunately, it is far from always possible to cope with the disease using medications. In such cases, the doctor decides to crush or remove calculi.
Diagnostic measures
Crushing stones in the ureter is a safe procedure, but it is far from effective in every case. Diagnosis is extremely important, which makes it possible to check the patient for contraindications.
- Analysis of urine and blood (including sugar) helps determine the presence of inflammatory processes and diseases of the endocrine system.
- Fluorography is also performed, since a similar procedure is contraindicated in active forms of tuberculosis.
- Additionally, it is recommended to donate blood for biochemical analysis - a coagulogram and liver tests are performed.
- Ultrasound of the kidneys, ureters and other pelvic organs is mandatory. This procedure makes it possible to determine the shape and size of calculi, their exact location.
- Urography is also needed.
- Patient donates blood to check for HIV infection and syphilis.
- If there are problems from the cardiovascular system, a consultation with a therapist and electrocardiography are indicated.
How to prepare for the procedure?
Crushing stones is a manipulation that requires some preparation. Gases in the intestines can interfere with the procedure, so a few days before the operation, the patient needs to adhere to a special diet. From the diet, it is worth excluding lactic acid products, legumes, fatty foods, juices, black bread, fresh vegetables and fruits, in a word, everything that enhances the processes of gas formation in the intestine.
Immediately before the procedure, the patient is given an enema, since the intestine must be emptied of the stool and gases accumulated in it.
Ultrasonic crushing of stones in the ureter
This procedure is by far the most affordable and effective. Ultrasound crushing of stones in the ureter is a safe technique. An endoscope and an ultrasound device are inserted directly into the renal pelvis through small punctures on the skin. Under the influence of ultrasonic waves, stones are destroyed, forming fine sand.
Crushing stones in the ureter with ultrasound can not only get rid of solid formations, but also clean the walls of the canals from salt deposits, thereby preventing the growth of new calculi.
Laser stone removal
Laser crushing of stones in the ureter is another effective and safe procedure. During the operation, an endoscope is inserted into the renal pelvis, which allows the specialist to get a good overview of calculi. With the help of a laser, a doctor destroys solid formations - they break up into small parts. Today, there are devices that can destroy even the smallest grains of sand.
Crushing stones in the ureter with a laser does not take much time and does not require general anesthesia - only mild sedatives are administered to the patient. Punctures on the skin are very small, and there is no direct contact with the patient’s blood, which minimizes the chance of tissue infection. The laser acts directly on the calculus, without injuring the tissues of the excretory system. After the procedure, the patient's condition is monitored for several hours, after which he can go home. Rehabilitation does not require much time - a person can almost immediately return to their usual way of life.
Remote lithotripsy: features and disadvantages of the procedure
This technique consists in exposure to air waves, but not through punctures of the abdominal wall or urethra, but directly through the skin. A similar procedure is rarely used. The fact is that the vibrations that crush the stones are so strong that they can injure the kidney tissue and even cause its concussion, which is fraught with dangerous consequences, even death.
There is another type of procedure - the equipment is introduced into the urinary canal through the urethra, after which it is affected by calculus by air and mechanical waves. The operation is not performed if the stone is too large and hard or located directly in the kidney.
Contraindications to lithopsy
Crushing stones in the ureter is not always possible. Regardless of the type, such procedures have a number of contraindications, a list of which is as follows:
- calculus coral-shaped stones;
- pregnancy;
- various bleeding disorders;
- the presence of a pacemaker in a patient;
- abdominal aortic aneurysm;
- the presence of large cysts in the kidneys;
- acute infectious diseases, such as colds or SARS (in this case, you must first undergo a course of treatment);
- pathological changes in the bones;
- oncological diseases.
Contactless crushing of stones in the ureter: reviews. What happens after the procedure?
Removal of calculi with a laser or ultrasound is a minimally invasive procedure. Nevertheless, after crushing stone in the ureter, some deterioration is possible.
Patients complain of frequent urination, which is accompanied by pain and pain, which is associated with the passage of calculus residues through the urinary tract. Small stones can damage the tissues of the urethra, which is accompanied by the appearance of blood impurities in the urine. Perhaps an increase in body temperature to subfebrile values (37-37.5 degrees). Sometimes there are back pain and signs of renal colic, which can easily be removed with antispasmodics. Testimonials from patients and doctors indicate that these symptoms go away on their own after a few days.
After the procedure, the patient needs rest, bed rest and a proper diet. In addition, patients are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (prevent the development of the inflammatory process and relieve pain), antibiotics (for the prevention of infectious diseases), antispasmodics and diuretic teas (accelerate the process of removing stones from the body).
Possible complications after contactless crushing
In most cases, crushing of stones in the ureter takes place without any problems, because ultramodern equipment is used during the procedure. Nevertheless, therapy may be associated with some complications:
- In patients with chronic kidney disease (for example, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis), an exacerbation of the disease can be observed after the procedure.
- Sometimes hematomas appear in the tissues of the kidney.
- Occasionally, after the procedure, a so-called residual path from stones is formed. Fragments of stones are not completely eliminated from the body, but clog the duct, which leads to relapse.
After the procedure, you need to carefully monitor your well-being - consult a doctor if there is any deterioration.
Surgery
In fact, it is extremely rare for patients to undergo a full-fledged surgical operation. Crushing stones in the ureter, as a rule, helps to get rid of calculi. The indication for surgical treatment is only the presence of large stones (their size exceeds 20-25 mm). This abdominal procedure, which is performed under general anesthesia. Of course, the patient after surgery requires long-term rehabilitation and special medication.