What department should I go to for kidney stones?

Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Patients with kidney stones need to visit the urology department of their local hospital for standard examinations and treatments. Doctors will conduct an ultrasound and CT scan of the urinary system to determine the exact size of the stones. If the stones are relatively small, measuring less than 1.52 centimeters, they can be treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. If the stones are larger, surgical treatment is necessary. Currently, the main method is a minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy with holmium laser lithotripsy. Patients generally need about 7-10 days post-operation before they can be discharged from the hospital.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What department should I go to for kidney stones?

Kidney stones fall under the category of urological diseases. If one suffers from kidney stones, it is necessary to visit a hospital and register at the urology department. Examinations such as color ultrasound and CT scans are required to precisely determine the stone's location and size, and to check if it is accompanied by spinal infection or other conditions for appropriate treatment. If the stone within the kidney is comparatively small, such as about 5 millimeters, conservative treatment to facilitate stone expulsion is generally adopted. This can be achieved through increased water intake and frequent urination, physical exercise, in conjunction with medications like stone-expelling granules and solutions to promote the expulsion of the stone from the body. If the stone is larger and causes renal accumulation of fluid or even infection, it is necessary to first control the infection before proceeding with surgical intervention.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

The symptoms of kidney stones vary depending on the size of the stones and whether they cause obstruction. If the stones are relatively small, they can usually pass smoothly through the ureters and urethra and be expelled from the body without causing any symptoms. When the stones are expelled, small stones can be seen in the urine. If the kidney stones are relatively large but do not cause obstruction in the kidneys or bladder, they generally do not cause any symptoms. Symptoms occur only when larger stones move downward and become lodged in the ureters, causing back pain, nausea, and vomiting. The stones can scratch the walls of the ureters, leading to blood in the urine. When stones get stuck in the urethra, it can cause painful urination discomfort and perineal pain. Since the stones can scratch the inner walls of the urethra, they may also cause blood in the urine.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is kidney stones serious?

Whether kidney stones are serious depends on the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there is accompanying kidney hydronephrosis or infection. If it is just a small stone inside the kidney, such as one with a diameter of about five millimeters, this situation is not serious. By drinking more water, urinating frequently, exercising more, and combining with medications like stone expulsion granules and stone expulsion solutions, the stones can generally be expelled from the body. If the stones are large and cause kidney hydronephrosis, or even lead to pyelonephritis or renal abscesses, this situation is more serious. It requires anti-inflammatory treatment and timely surgical intervention to remove the stones, relieve the obstruction of the urinary system, and protect kidney function.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Is kidney stone surgery painful?

For the treatment of kidney stones, larger kidney stones or multiple stones, stag-horn stones might consider surgical treatment. There are two types of surgery, the first is percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which involves inserting a nephroscope through a puncture in the kidney to break up and expel the stones from the body; the second type of surgery is ureteroscopy, which does not require an incision, by entering the kidney through the urethra and ureter, and then breaking up the stones and expelling them from the body. Both surgical methods are performed under anesthesia, so the patient will not feel pain. However, pain after ureteroscopy is typically less than that after percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which requires absolute bed rest post-operation, while ureteroscopy does not.

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Written by Guan Hai Fang
Urology
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What should be noted for kidney stones?

If you have kidney stones, you should avoid vigorous exercise and heavy physical labor in daily life, and avoid eating foods that may aggravate kidney stones. For example, do not eat persimmons, drink tea, consume tofu, or eat too many soy products, etc. The reason to avoid persimmons is that they contain tannins, which can contact stomach acid and more easily bond with plant fibers, forming a stone that may worsen kidney stones. In other aspects, pay attention to a light diet because inflammation is more likely to occur with kidney stones, so avoid eating spicy and stimulating foods. It is recommended that patients go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment.