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hydronephrosis
Is hydronephrosis scary?
Hydronephrosis is rather alarming, as it harms the body in two main ways: First, it creates increased pressure inside the kidneys due to fluid accumulation in the urinary system. This pressure can compress kidney tissue, and if not resolved, may lead to irreversible kidney damage and renal failure. However, if hydronephrosis formed in the short term is quickly addressed by clearing the urinary system, it typically has minimal impact on kidney function. Another aspect relates to the causes of hydronephrosis, some of which are complicated issues, such as bladder cancer, rectal cancer, or cervical cancer in females. These cancers can press on the ureter, leading to hydronephrosis. Other causes, such as urolithiasis or benign prostatic hyperplasia, are relatively easier to manage.
How to relieve pain from hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis accompanied by pain is generally caused by kidney stones lodged in the ureter leading to renal colic, and the stones in the ureter can cause urinary obstruction, thus presenting as hydronephrosis. To alleviate the pain in such cases, treatment methods are chosen based on the size of the stone. If the kidney stone is relatively small and estimated to be able to pass by itself into the bladder, temporary use of pain relief medication can be administered for symptomatic treatment, along with medication that dilates the ureter to expand its diameter, facilitating the expulsion of the stone. If the stone is large and predicted not to pass on its own, temporary symptomatic treatment with pain relief medication can be used. Meanwhile, after completing preoperative examinations, surgery can be performed to remove the stone, which can also completely alleviate the pain symptoms.
How is hydronephrosis diagnosed?
Strictly speaking, hydronephrosis cannot be considered an independent disease; it is merely a descriptive term in imaging, and is the result of many causes and various etiologies. It occurs because urine produced by the kidneys cannot smoothly pass through the ureters and bladder to be excreted from the body, leading to fluid accumulation in the renal pelvis and calyces. This may be caused by prostate enlargement, tumors in the urinary system, urinary system stones, or chronic inflammation and scarring of the ureters. Generally, hydronephrosis can be detected through imaging techniques, including urinary system ultrasound or CT, which can confirm the diagnosis.
Kidney hydronephrosis atrophy symptoms
Severe hydronephrosis may cause kidney atrophy. The symptoms of the patient can be divided into two aspects: Firstly, hydronephrosis may cause some clinical symptoms, such as some patients may experience swelling in the lumbar and back area, and a decrease in urine output. Patients may suffer from spasms of the ureter due to obstruction of the urinary system, resulting in severe pain, and some patients may also have hematuria. On the other hand, the atrophy of kidney tissue caused by this hydronephrosis actually means the loss of kidney function. Patients may exhibit symptoms of renal failure, such as swelling of limbs, increased blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, anemia, and other clinical symptoms.
How is hydronephrosis detected?
The kidneys have a very strong compensatory ability. In the early stages of hydronephrosis, the amount of fluid may not be large, or the duration may not be long, and usually, the patient may have no symptoms. Hydronephrosis is often discovered during health examinations or through ultrasound or CT scans performed during hospital stays. Of course, if the hydronephrosis persists for too long and the volume is very large, the patient can gradually feel discomfort or a distended sensation in the lower back or upper abdomen. Moreover, if the hydronephrosis is caused by kidney stones, the patient often experiences severe back pain, and there might even be visible blood in the urine. Hydronephrosis can also lead to symptoms of urinary tract infections such as frequent urination, urgent urination, and painful urination. Prolonged hydronephrosis can lead to a decline in kidney function, resulting in symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, and poor overall health. Therefore, it is crucial for patients to undergo regular ultrasound examinations of the kidneys to detect hydronephrosis early.
Should people with hydronephrosis avoid certain foods?
Although there are many causes leading to hydronephrosis in patients, most hydronephrosis is related to stones, meaning that hydronephrosis occurs in patients due to ureteral kidney stones. Therefore, dietary restrictions are necessary for patients with hydronephrosis in daily life. If the hydronephrosis is caused by calcium oxalate stones, patients should avoid consuming foods that are high in calcium and oxalates, such as nuts, legumes, spinach, and beets. If the hydronephrosis is due to the formation of uric acid stones, patients should also avoid consuming excessive amounts of animal organs, such as pork liver and kidneys, avoid seafood, and try not to drink beer, as these contain a high amount of purines, which can easily lead to stone formation. Additionally, if patients with hydronephrosis also have renal insufficiency, they should follow a low-salt diet and avoid consuming particularly salty foods, including various pickles, etc.
Is hydronephrosis of both kidneys serious?
Clinically, bilateral hydronephrosis is serious, as it can lead to expansion of the renal pelvis. Long-term bilateral hydronephrosis can compress the renal parenchyma, leading to the development of chronic obstructive nephropathy, and thus cause chronic renal failure. Additionally, because urine cannot be expelled from the body in a timely manner in bilateral hydronephrosis, it is easy to combine with bacterial infections, which can lead to acute pyelonephritis. Patients may experience chills, fever, and severe back pain, as well as hematuria and general fatigue. Therefore, it is essential to identify the cause of bilateral hydronephrosis and treat it based on the nature of the hydronephrosis. Usually, the causes of bilateral hydronephrosis are related to stones, but tumorous diseases, bladder stones, or urethral strictures are also common causes.
How to relieve nausea caused by hydronephrosis?
Hydronephrosis with nausea can be caused by various reasons, so alleviating nausea symptoms requires specific analysis based on the specific cause. Patients with hydronephrosis often seen in hospital beds are mostly those with ureteral stones. When the stone is lodged in the ureter, the patient will experience an obstruction of urine outflow, leading to hydronephrosis. Moreover, a stone stuck in the ureter can cause renal colic, manifested as back pain, and may also be accompanied by symptoms of nausea and vomiting. In such cases, treatment methods depend on the size of the stone; if the stone is relatively small, it can often be passed naturally with increased water intake and conservative treatment. If the stone is large, it generally requires surgical removal. Hydronephrosis can also result from prolonged obstruction leading to impaired kidney function and uremia. In these situations, it's usually necessary to promptly relieve the urinary obstruction, maintain urethral patency, and, if the patient has elevated blood creatinine levels, employ dialysis or other methods to bring creatinine back to reasonable levels.
What foods can be eaten with hydronephrosis?
Patients with hydronephrosis should pay attention to a light diet, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, and consume less high-salt foods, while also abstaining from alcohol. Besides controlling their diet, patients with hydronephrosis should also actively search for the underlying causes of the condition. Common causes of hydronephrosis in clinical practice include urinary tract stones or prostate hyperplasia, mainly due to obstructions in the ureter or urethra, preventing the urine produced by the kidneys from being excreted, which then leads to hydronephrosis. Once the cause of the urinary obstruction is identified, it is necessary to actively treat the underlying cause to restore the patency of the urinary tract. After the condition improves, it is also important to drink more water and urinate frequently to maintain health.
What should I do if I have hydronephrosis and atrophy?
Hydronephrosis leading to kidney shrinkage indicates that the condition has persisted for a long time. Long-term hydronephrosis places significant pressure on the kidneys, which in turn compresses the kidney tissues causing tissue shrinkage. The destruction and shrinkage of tissues result in the kidneys' inability to function properly, leading to azotemia. Patients will experience chronic kidney failure, a situation that is difficult to reverse. Even if surgery is performed to relieve the obstruction and allow urine to be excreted, the damaged kidney tissue cannot regenerate. Therefore, it is still necessary to relieve the obstruction as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the remaining kidney tissue. For patients who have progressed to uremia, it may be necessary to consider hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, or undertake a kidney transplant to sustain life.