Kidney stones are a common problem today. More often, their formation occurs in patients in the age category after 30 years. According to statistics, in Russia, approximately 3% of the population suffers from urolithiasis.
Kidney stone detected ... What should I do? This question is asked by most patients with urolithiasis (urolithiasis). We will talk about methods of treating an ailment in this article. But first, we will deal with factors that contribute to the occurrence of urolithiasis. The formation of kidney stones is a process whose causes can be very different. Modern medicine offers the latest methods of treating this pathology, including the use of a laser and ultrasonic crushing of kidney stones . Reviews of grateful patients who were helped by these methods of treatment indicate their effectiveness.
Causes
The main reason for the growth of kidney stones is a violation of metabolic processes. This phenomenon is mainly affected by water-salt metabolism and the chemical composition of human blood . In this case, an excess of salts appears in the urine - this leads to the formation of crystals (stones).
What factors contribute to the occurrence of urolithiasis?
These factors include:
- Increased water hardness. There are entire regions in the Russian Federation where the percentage of patients suffering from urolithiasis is very high for this reason.
- Excessive consumption of salty, fried, spicy foods.
- Violation of the drinking regime. The lack of fluid in the body leads to the formation of more concentrated urine, as a result of which the risk of salt deposits in the kidneys increases.
- In regions with a hot climate with insufficient fluid intake in people, the risk of developing urolithiasis increases.
- Hypodynamia leads to stagnation of blood. Internal organs, including the kidneys, suffer from malnutrition. It is proved that in case of physical inactivity, calcium is washed out from the bones. This leads to an increased content of calcium in the urine, and therefore a risk of kidney stones.
- Disruption of the urinary system.
- Chronic diseases and infections of the urinary system.
- Heredity.
- A deficiency or, conversely, an excess of certain vitamins leads to metabolic disorders. It is necessary to maintain an optimal balance of vitamins C, A, as well as group D.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Uncontrolled intake of certain drugs (diuretics, sulfa drugs, etc.).
Classification of stones with urolithiasis
Stones with urolithiasis can be in any part of the urinary system (kidneys, bladder, ureters). Types of kidney stones are very different. They may vary in chemical composition, shape, size, weight and quantity. There are single stones or multiple. Sometimes their number reaches several hundred and even thousands. The size of kidney stones varies from the smallest grains of sand to the size of a fist, and by weight - from tenths of a gram to a kilogram and even more.
The types of kidney stones in chemical composition are also diverse:
- Phosphates - are formed from salts of phosphoric acid (phosphoric acid calcium or magnesia). Tripelphosphates are phosphoric acid ammonia magnesia. These stones form in alkaline urine; they are friable, soft texture. Usually white or grayish. They grow quickly and break up well. Usually formed in chronic inflammatory processes of the urinary system.
- Oxalates are salts of oxalic acid (oxalic calcium or ammonium). These are intractable dense stones of black or dark brown color. They have an uneven tuberous surface, often spiky.
- Urate is a salt of uric acid (uric sodium, or ammonium). These stones are dense, smooth, as a rule, without processes, of a brown color.
- Xanthine - composed of xanthine and uric acid. The color is grayish green or dark yellow. Very dense. Formed in acidic urine. They are rare.
- Carbonates - these stones are composed of carbon dioxide magnesia and calcium carbonate. They are white in color, easily crushed.
- Cystine - usually found immediately in both kidneys, smooth, shiny, pale gray in color and soft consistency. They are observed in patients with a rare hereditary disease - cystinuria. Found in patients with urolithiasis.
- Protein - consist of fibrin, various formations of bacteria and salts, flattened form, white, layered.
- Cholesterol - black, easily crumble. They are rare.
- Mixed - these are stones made up of various chemical components. Around the core of a stone of one composition, concentric circles from other chemical elements are formed.
According to statistics, in 80% of cases with urolithiasis, oxalates are found, less often - urates (from 5 to 15%) and phosphates (from 5 to 8%). Other types of kidney stones are rare.
Diagnostics
How to identify kidney stones? There is a laboratory diagnosis of their definition and instrumental. The first includes the implementation of various laboratory tests. The instrumental is performed using special equipment.
Laboratory diagnostics
- A clinical blood test is included in a mandatory examination for any disease. When an infection is attached, leukocytosis, a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left, or anemia can be detected.
- Blood biochemistry is prescribed to determine the concentration of uric acid, calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus. Their increased content in the blood may indicate a violation of metabolic processes in the body.
- A general blood test is included in a mandatory examination for various pathologies, and especially the urinary system. With urolithiasis, erythrocytes, salt crystals may be present in the urine sediment under microscopy, and bacteria and an increased number of leukocytes may be present when an infection is attached.
- To detect kidney stones, various urinary tests are prescribed: Nechiporenko, Amburge, Addis-Kakovsky.
- Biochemical examination of urine.
- Sow urine on the bacterial flora.
Instrumental diagnostics
- Survey radiography.
- Contrast radiography.
- Ultrasound of the urinary system (kidney, bladder).
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- CT scan.
- Radioisotope nephroscintigraphy.
- Cystoscopy.
Treatment
If urolithiasis is detected, conservative treatment, instrumental, chemotherapy (dissolving kidney stones with a number of medications), crushing stones or surgical treatment may be indicated. The removal method is offered by the doctor after a complete examination of the patient, taking into account all contraindications to one or another method of therapy.
If a kidney stone is found, what should I do in this case? First of all, you need to contact a urologist or surgeon. Depending on the size of the stones, their quantity and chemical composition, a treatment method will be proposed.
Conservative treatment
This method of treatment is aimed at relieving pain during attacks of urolithiasis, as well as at preventing inflammatory processes in the urinary system. This also includes the prevention of relapse and complications of urolithiasis. Conservative treatment of this pathology is used only if the size of the calculus does not exceed 4 mm.
Drug treatment
If an inflammatory process occurs in the urinary system and the presence of calculi, the doctor first prescribes antibiotics. Only after the removal of inflammation, a decision is made on the method of treatment of urolithiasis.
For pain relief, analgesics are usually used: Baralgin, No-Shpa, Ibuprofen, Metamizole Sodium, Indomethacin, Dicloberl, Dexalgin, Morphine, Baralgetas. The use of these drugs not only eliminates pain, but also helps relieve spasm from the ureters and relaxes the muscles of the entire urinary system. This greatly facilitates the condition of patients and stimulates the independent exit of individual small stones.
Using medical treatment for urolithiasis, experts advise to follow the drinking regimen and move more. This contributes to the passage of stones.
Chemotherapy for urolithiasis
This treatment method is aimed at dissolving kidney stones and alkalizing urine. It is used mainly in the presence of urate and mixed calculi, which form in an acidic environment. To do this, use drugs such as Blemaren and Uralit U.
To dissolve the kidney and bile calculi, the Urolesan plant-based preparation is used, which includes extract of fir, hops, oregano and mint. This drug has an anti-inflammatory effect and relaxes smooth muscles, which contributes to the passage of small stones.
Surgical treatment
If the doctor has confirmed that the patient has kidney stones, surgery to remove them may also be suggested. Surgical treatment of this pathology can be performed as an open surgery , endoscopic removal of stones and lithotripsy (contact or remote). Lithotripsy is the crushing of calculi. This procedure can be performed using a laser or ultrasound.
Crushing kidney stones by ultrasound. Reviews
In this way, kidney stones can be destroyed by contact or remotely.
Remote lithotripsy is performed using ultrasound on stones through muscle tissue. But the use of this method can lead to complications, because the effect is not only on calculi, but also on nearby tissues. This can lead to kidney contusion.
More often, contact crushing of kidney stones is carried out by ultrasound. Patient reviews indicate the effectiveness of such treatment. Contact lithotripsy is performed using endoscopic equipment. In this case, the effect of ultrasound is directly on calculi. They are scattered into separate small pieces and washed with the pumped liquid or removed by suction.
Depending on the clinic, from 15 to 45 thousand rubles will cost such a procedure as crushing kidney stones with ultrasound. Reviews indicate that contact lithotripsy is somewhat more expensive than remote lithotripsy. It will cost the patient from 20 to 50 thousand rubles. The price includes a full examination, consultation and the crushing procedure itself in several stages.
Laser crushing
This type of treatment can save the patient from calculi of any composition and size in just one procedure. This method also applies to contact lithotripsy, which is carried out using endoscopic equipment. The price of such treatment is several times higher than ultrasound.
If kidney stones are found, the laser is capable of painlessly and in just one session to save the patient from calculi.
Kidney Stone Herbs
With urolithiasis, traditional medicine offers many methods of treatment. This is mainly the use of various medicinal herbs. They are used both individually and in collections. Apply decoctions and infusions of rosehip, knotweed, stuffing, young birch leaves, juniper fruits, perforated St. John's wort grass, creeping thyme grass, etc.
The easiest way to prepare such a medicine is to make an infusion in a thermos. For this, one art. a spoonful of dry raw materials should be poured into a thermos from the evening and pour one glass of freshly boiled water. Close the thermos, in the morning the drug will be ready. Typically, such infusions are recommended to take 1/3 cup before meals 3 times a day.
Such treatment can be carried out in cases where small kidney stones are found. Patient reviews indicate the effectiveness of traditional medicine methods. With large calculi in the kidneys (more than 3 mm), before applying any self-medication actions, you need to consult a doctor, because this can lead to complications: for example, a large stone will move and become stuck in the ureter. Now there are modern and painless methods of treating urolithiasis.