Kidney Stones Specialist

Kidney Stones Q & A

What are Kidney Stones?

Masses of calcium oxalate which form in the kidneys and are the result of the build up of dissolved minerals on the inner lining are known as kidney stones. The deposits have a crystalline structure and are often sharp. Kidney stones can vary in size from that of a gain of sand to the size of a golf ball. Kidney stones occasionally pass through the urinary tract unnoticed. However, they usually cause discomfort when exiting the body. They can also stay in the body and cause several issues suck as blockages in the ureter and pain in the area.

What Causes a Kidney Stone?

While several factors can contribute to the development of a kidney stone, the most frequent cause is dehydration. The development of kidney stones takes place more often in people who don’t drink enough water. When an individual is not drinking enough the kidney environment becomes exceedingly acidic. The acidity is very conducive to the formation of kidney stones and is caused by extreme levels of uric acid. This happens because there isn’t enough water in the the urine to dilute it. Some medical conditions such as UTIs, medullary sponge kidney, hyperparathyroidism, and Crohn’s disease can also cause kidney stones.

How are Kidney Stones Treated?

Kidney stone treatment is typically focused on controlling the symptoms since passing a kidney stone can create a lot of discomfort. The medical staff will hydrate the patient with an IV and provide him or her anti-inflammatories. Pain medications are also provided to assist the person with passing the stone. When they are too big to be passed, they can be broken up with ultrasound waves using shock wave therapy. If the stone is in an area where the ultrasound therapy can’t be used, surgery can be used. Surgical procedures employed are:

• Nephrolithotomy- where the stone is excised through an incision in the patient’s back
• Ureteroscopic stone removal- which utilizes a tube placed into the urethra to extract the stone