Kidney Stones in Adults and Ways of Their

Who gets kidney stones?
The persent of people in the Russian Federation with kidney stones - 10-15%
The prevalence of kidney stones rises in people from 20 to 50 years

Introduction to the Urinary Tract
The urinary tract, or system, consists of:
kidneys
ureters
bladder
urethra

What is a kidney stone?
It is a hard mass developed from crystals that are made from the urine within the urinary tract.
The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate

What causes kidney stones?
Hereditary factors(hypercalciuria)
Urinary tract infections
Metabolic disorders (cystinuria, hyperoxaluria)

Foods and Drinks Containing Oxalate
High-oxalate foods—higher to lower
spinach
beets
peanuts
chocolate
black Indian tea
potatoes
Medium-oxalate foods
grits
grapes
celery
green pepper
strawberries
marmalade
liver

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Sudden extreme pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney or in the lower abdomen
nausea and vomiting (sometimes )
blood in the urine
burning sensation during urination
If fever and chills accompany any of these symptoms

How are kidney stones diagnosed?
X-rays, ultrasound
Computerized Tomography(CT)
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)

Preventing Kidney Stones
urine and blood tests
history taking
stone analysis
Proper treatment

Medical Therapy
A doctor may prescribe certain medications to help prevent and to treat calcium and uric acid stones.
Allopurinol
Diuretics(hydrochlorothiazide)
Thiola and Cuprimine
Acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) with long-term antibiotic medicines

Surgical Treatment
does not pass after a reasonable
period of time and causes constant pain
is too large to pass on its own or is caught in a difficult place
blocks the flow of urine
causes an ongoing urinary tract infection
damages kidney tissue or causes constant bleeding
has grown larger, as seen on follow-up x rays
may be needed to remove a kidney stone if it:

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy
It is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones. In ESWL, shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the denser stones. The stones break down into small particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
In this procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the back and creates a tunnel directly into the kidney. Using an instrument called a nephroscope, the surgeon locates and removes the stone.

Ureteroscopic Stone Removal
It may be needed for mid- and lower-ureter stones. The surgeon passes a small fiberoptic instrument called a ureteroscope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. The surgeon then locates the stone and either removes it with a cage-like device or shatters it with a special instrument that produces a form of shock wave.

Lifestyle Changes
drink more liquids
avoid products with high calcium content
eat less meat, fish, and poultry

Points to Remember
A person with a family history of stones may be more likely to develop more stones.
Drink plenty of liquids—water is best.
Blood and urine tests.
Some people will need medicines to prevent stones from forming.
People with chronic urinary tract infections and stones will often need a stone removed if the doctor determines that the stone is causing the infection.