Hydronephrosis should be seen by the Urology Department.

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Hydronephrosis requires consultation at the urology department of a formal public hospital. Hydronephrosis refers to the situation where urine produced by the kidneys cannot be smoothly excreted. The primary reason is usually due to obstructions in the urinary tract below the kidneys, such as in the ureter or bladder. Obstructive factors primarily include stones, tumors, prostate enlargement in men, scarring or adhesions in the ureter, or inadequate ureteral motility, among others, often necessitating urologic intervention. These obstructive factors usually require surgical removal, such as using ultrasonic lithotripsy for stones or direct surgical intervention, thus necessitating a visit to urology.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Hydronephrosis should be seen by the Urology Department.

Hydronephrosis requires consultation at the urology department of a formal public hospital. Hydronephrosis refers to the situation where urine produced by the kidneys cannot be smoothly excreted. The primary reason is usually due to obstructions in the urinary tract below the kidneys, such as in the ureter or bladder. Obstructive factors primarily include stones, tumors, prostate enlargement in men, scarring or adhesions in the ureter, or inadequate ureteral motility, among others, often necessitating urologic intervention. These obstructive factors usually require surgical removal, such as using ultrasonic lithotripsy for stones or direct surgical intervention, thus necessitating a visit to urology.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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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.

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Written by Li Yuan Wei
Urology
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Is hydronephrosis of the second degree severe?

Hydronephrosis grade two, this "grade two" is likely a classification used in ultrasound or CT imaging. For hydronephrosis, the presence of condition itself indicates that the pathology has already affected kidney function. The most common causes include ureteral obstruction, or obstruction at the renal pelvis exit, typically due to stones or tumors, or narrowing caused by plastic tubes. Once hydronephrosis occurs, these conditions have already altered kidney function, necessitating further diagnosis to identify the cause, with surgery possibly being required. The most common objective assessment is a CT scan of the urinary system, with enhanced CT being the most accurate for understanding the severity of the hydronephrosis. Also, it helps identify the location of the ureteral obstruction, and thirdly, it can help ascertain the cause and provide treatment.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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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.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is hydronephrosis serious?

Whether the condition of hydronephrosis is serious depends on various factors such as the duration of hydronephrosis, the cause, the extent of fluid accumulation, and more. For example, some patients may have mild hydronephrosis in only one kidney and it may have developed recently; generally, this condition is not very serious. Some patients might have urinary obstructions caused by urinary system stones, and the issue could be resolved using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or surgical stone removal, making the condition not serious. However, in some cases, the cause could be bladder cancer or a tumor near the urinary system compressing the ureter, and if the tumor is difficult to remove, the hydronephrosis might be hard to manage. Long-term fluid accumulation might lead to kidney failure, and these scenarios are considered quite serious.