How is hydronephrosis detected?

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on December 12, 2024
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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 Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
1min 12sec home-news-image

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 Chen Feng
Urology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Is hydronephrosis prone to recurrence?

Whether hydronephrosis is prone to recurrence depends on the cause of the hydronephrosis. Common causes of hydronephrosis in clinical practice are as follows: First, urinary tract stones. When a stone is lodged in the ureter or urethra, it can cause urinary obstruction. The urine produced by the kidneys cannot be expelled in time, leading to hydronephrosis. If the stones in the urinary system can be completely removed, it generally does not recur easily. However, if there are still quite a few stones in the kidney or bladder after clearing the urinary tract, it is more likely to recur, because the stones might move down, get lodged in the ureter or urethra again, and cause hydronephrosis. Second, prostate enlargement. Hydronephrosis caused by prostate enlargement is generally more likely to recur because the prostate continues to grow in size. Even if the enlarged prostate is surgically removed, it still might lead to urethral stricture, thereby causing hydronephrosis again.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Does hydronephrosis hurt a lot?

Hydronephrosis does not necessarily cause severe pain. If the hydronephrosis develops suddenly over a short period, it might cause intense pain, most commonly due to urinary system stones blocking the ureter, leading to hydronephrosis. At this time, the ureter may experience spasms, causing severe pain. However, if the hydronephrosis develops gradually, the patient's pain symptoms might not be pronounced. For example, insufficient motility of the ureter or some type of narrowing could lead to the accumulation of fluid. If this condition develops slowly and persists for a long time, the patient might not feel particularly uncomfortable, despite the hydronephrosis, and it may only be discovered incidentally during a physical examination.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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How is hydronephrosis treated?

The treatment of hydronephrosis often requires surgery. Decisions about diagnosis and treatment plans should be based on clinical symptoms, the duration of the obstruction, the location of the obstruction, and whether there is an infection. Since hydronephrosis is typically caused by a pathological factor that blocks the ureter, surgery is often necessary to remove the obstruction in order to address the hydronephrosis and prevent further damage to kidney function. The principle of the surgery is that if the obstruction is minor, a simple corrective surgery may suffice. However, if the dilation of the ureter and renal pelvis is very significant, a reanastomosis of the ureter and renal pelvis might be needed.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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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.