Kidney stones are a fairly 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 to do? This question is asked by most patients with urolithiasis (urolithiasis). We will talk about ways to treat the disease in this article. But first, let's look at the factors that contribute to the occurrence of urolithiasis. The formation of kidney stones is a process, the causes of which can be very different. Modern medicine offers the latest methods of treating this pathology, including the use of a laser and the crushing of kidney stones with ultrasound. Testimonials from grateful patients who have benefited from these treatments testify to their effectiveness.
Reasons
The main reason for the growth of kidney stones is a violation of metabolic processes. This phenomenon is mainly influenced by water-s alt metabolism and the chemical composition of human blood. At the same time, an excess of s alts appears in the urine - this leads to the formation of crystals.(stones).
What factors contribute to 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 precisely for this reason.
- Eating too much s alty, fried, spicy foods.
- Violation of the drinking regime. The lack of fluid in the body leads to the formation of more concentrated urine, which increases the risk of deposition of s alt crystals in the kidneys.
- In regions with a hot climate, with insufficient fluid intake in people, the risk of developing urolithiasis increases.
- Physical inactivity leads to stagnation of blood. Internal organs, including the kidneys, suffer from malnutrition. It has been proven that during physical inactivity, calcium is washed out of the bones. This leads to increased calcium in the urine, and therefore the risk of kidney stones.
- Disruption of the urinary system.
- Chronic diseases and infections of the urinary system.
- Heredity.
- Lack or, conversely, an excess of certain vitamins leads to disruption of metabolic processes. It is necessary to maintain an optimal balance of vitamins C, A, and group D.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Uncontrolled intake of certain drugs (diuretics, sulfa drugs, etc.).
Classification of stones in urolithiasis
Stones in urolithiasis canbe in any of the departments of the urinary system (kidneys, bladder, ureters). There are different types of kidney stones. They may differ in chemical composition, shape, size, weight and quantity. There are single stones or multiple ones. Sometimes their number reaches several hundreds and even thousands. The sizes of kidney stones vary from the smallest grains of sand to the size of a fist, and by weight - from tenths of a gram to a kilogram or even more.
Types of kidney stones in terms of chemical composition are also diverse:
- Phosphates - are formed from s alts of phosphoric acid (phosphoric acid calcium or magnesia). Tripelphosphates are ammonia-magnesium phosphate. These stones are formed in alkaline urine, they are loose, soft consistency. Usually white or grayish in color. They grow fast and split well. Usually formed in chronic inflammatory processes of the urinary system.
- Oxalates are s alts of oxalic acid (oxalic calcium or ammonium). These are hard-to-crush dense stones of black or dark brown color. They have an uneven, bumpy surface, often spiny.
- Urates are s alts of uric acid (uric sodium, or ammonium). These stones are dense, smooth, as a rule, without processes, brown in color.
- Xanthine - consist of xanthine and uric acid. Grayish green or dark yellow in color. Very dense. Formed in acidic urine. Rare.
- Carbonates - these stones are composed of magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate. They are white in color and easily crushed.
- Cystine - usually found in both kidneys at once, smooth, shiny, pale gray in color and soft in texture. Observed in patients with a rare hereditary disease - cystinuria. Occurs in patients with urolithiasis.
- Protein - consist of fibrin, various formations from bacteria and s alts, flattened, white, layered.
- Cholesterol - black, crumble easily. Rare.
- Mixed - these are stones consisting of various chemical components. Concentric circles of other chemical elements form around the core of a stone of one composition.
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.
Diagnosis
How to identify kidney stones? There is laboratory diagnostics for their determination and instrumental. The first includes the performance of various laboratory studies. The instrumental is performed using special equipment.
Laboratory diagnostics
- Clinical blood test is included in the mandatory examination for any disease. When an infection is attached, leukocytosis, a shift of 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.
- General analysisblood is included in the mandatory examination for various pathologies, and especially the urinary system. With urolithiasis, erythrocytes, s alt crystals may be present in the urine sediment under microscopy, and when an infection is attached, bacteria and an increased number of leukocytes.
- For the detection of kidney stones, various urinary tests are prescribed: Nechiporenko, Amburge, Addis-Kakovsky.
- Biochemical study of urine.
- Perform urine culture for bacterial flora.
Instrumental diagnostics
- Plane X-ray.
- Contrast radiography.
- Ultrasound of the urinary system (kidneys, bladder).
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
- Computed tomography.
- Radioisotope nephroscintigraphy.
- Cystoscopy.
Treatment
When urolithiasis is detected, conservative treatment, instrumental, chemotherapy (dissolution of kidney stones with the help of a number of medications), crushing of stones or surgical treatment can 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 to do in this case? First of all, you need to contact a urologist or surgeon. Depending on the size of the stones, their number and chemical composition, a treatment method will be proposed.
Conservative treatment
Thisthe 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 relapses and complications of urolithiasis. Conservative treatment of this pathology is used only if the size of the calculus does not exceed 4 mm.
Medicated treatment
When an inflammatory process occurs in the urinary system and the presence of stones, the doctor first prescribes antibiotics. Only after the inflammation is removed, a decision is made on the method of treating urolithiasis.
Analgesics are usually used to relieve pain: Baralgin, No-Shpa, Ibuprofen, Metamizole Sodium, Indomethacin, Dicloberl, Dexalgin, Morphine, Baralgetas. The use of these drugs not only eliminates pain, but also helps to relieve spasm from the ureters and relax the muscles of the entire urinary system. This greatly facilitates the condition of patients and stimulates the independent exit of individual small stones.
When using drug treatment for urolithiasis, experts advise drinking and moving more. This promotes the passage of stones.
Chemotherapy for urolithiasis
This treatment aims to dissolve kidney stones and alkalinize urine. It is used mainly in the presence of urate and mixed calculi, which are formed in an acidic environment. For this, medicines such asBlemaren and Uralit U.
To dissolve kidney and bile calculi, a plant-based preparation "Urolesan" is used, which includes an extract of fir, hops, oregano and mint. This drug has an anti-inflammatory effect and relaxes smooth muscles, which promotes 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 open surgery, endoscopic stone removal and lithotripsy (contact or remote). Lithotripsy is the crushing of stones. This procedure can be performed with a laser or ultrasound.
Crushing kidney stones with ultrasound. Reviews
It is possible to destroy kidney stones in this way 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, since the impact is not only on the stones, but also on nearby tissues. This can lead to kidney contusion.
Contact crushing of kidney stones by ultrasound is more often performed. Patient reviews testify to the effectiveness of such treatment. Contact lithotripsy is performed using endoscopic equipment. In this case, the effect of ultrasound is directly on the stones. They crumble into separate small pieces and are washed out by the injected liquid or removed by suction.
Depending on the clinic, from 15 to 45 thousand rubles, such a procedure as crushing kidney stones with ultrasound will cost. 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 steps.
Laser crushing
This type of treatment can relieve the patient of stones of any composition and size in just one procedure. This method also applies to contact lithotripsy, which is performed using endoscopic equipment. The price of such treatment is several times higher than ultrasound.
If kidney stones are found, the laser can painlessly and in just one session relieve the patient of stones.
Herbs for kidney stones
For urolithiasis, traditional medicine offers many treatments. This is mainly the use of various medicinal herbs. They are used both individually and in collections. Decoctions and infusions of wild rose, knotweed, sulphur, young birch leaves, juniper fruits, St. John's wort herb, creeping thyme herb, 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 in the evening and pour one glass of freshly boiled water. Close the thermos, the potion will be ready in the morning. Usually suchinfusions recommend taking 1/3 cup before meals 3 times a day.
This treatment can be carried out in cases where small kidney stones are found. Patient reviews testify to the effectiveness of traditional medicine methods. With large stones in the kidneys (more than 3 mm), before applying any self-treatment actions, you need to consult a doctor, as this can lead to complications: for example, a large stone will move and get stuck in the ureter. Now there are modern and painless methods of treating urolithiasis.
