How to deal with kidney stones?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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For the treatment of kidney stones, it is first necessary to determine the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there are conditions such as hydronephrosis or infection to guide the treatment approach. If the stones inside the kidney are relatively small, such as about five millimeters, conservative treatment is primarily used. This can involve drinking more water, urinating frequently, and exercising more. When necessary, oral medications like stone expulsion granules or solutions can be taken to help expel the stones from the body. If the stones are larger and accompanied by hydronephrosis or even infection, it is necessary to control the infection first and then proceed with surgical treatment. Common surgical methods include percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopic lithotripsy, or open surgery for stone removal.

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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 Zeng Zhong
Urology
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What department should I go to for kidney stones?

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 Jian
Urology
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Is urethral calculus the same as kidney stones?

Urethral calculi and kidney stones are not the same concept. Urethral calculi refer to stones located in the urethra, while kidney stones are stones located within the kidney. The cause of urethral calculi is usually due to stones from the kidney or ureter becoming lodged in the urethra, which clinically often results in symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, and difficulty urinating. Severe cases may lead to urinary retention. If kidney stones are small and smooth, they may not cause any symptoms. However, larger kidney stones can cause localized back pain, and if infected, may also lead to high fever. The treatment methods for kidney stones and urethral calculi are also different. Urethral calculi can generally be removed through surgery or endoscopic methods, while the treatment for kidney stones depends on the size and location of the stones.

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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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How can kidney stones be expelled from the body?

The method of expelling kidney stones from the body is related to the size of the stones. If the diameter of the kidney stone is less than 0.6 centimeters, it can generally pass smoothly through the ureter and urethra to the outside of the body. This can be facilitated by drinking plenty of water and performing physical activity to naturally expel the stones. If a stone gets stuck in a physiologically narrow part of the ureter during expulsion, conservative treatment methods can be used to dilate the ureter, allowing the stone to pass on its own. If the kidney stones are relatively large but do not cause obstruction within the kidney, they can be observed temporarily without treatment. If larger stones get stuck in the ureter or urethra and cannot be expelled on their own, surgery is generally required to remove the stones. After surgery, it is also important to drink plenty of water and urinate frequently.