What are Kidney Stones?

 

Kidney stones are a common and painful medical problem. Kidney stones are formed when salts in the urine precipitate and form solid material bound together by a protein matrix. Common components are Calcium, Oxalate, Megnesium, Ammonium, Phosphate and Uric Acid.

 

What do Kidney stones look like?

 

Kidney stones may be small or large and either smooth or jagged. They are usually yellow or brown.

 

Where are the stones present?

 

The stones may be in the Kidney, ureter or the urinary bladder.

 

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

 

Are kidney stones common in India?

 

Yes, Kidney stones are very common in India and states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Uttarkhand and some parts of Uttar Pradesh fall in the global stone belt. this can be due to climatic reason ans food habits.

 

What are the treatment options for kidney stones?

 

Stones disease management involves treatment of the existing stone and preventive measures against recurresnces. Many small stones pass out by themselves through the urinary tract with the urine, however pain can be severe and require hospital admission and pain killer medicines. Many stones require open operation or endoscopic keyhole surgery.

 

Now a new invention, Extracorporeal shock-wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is available for effective treatment of kidney stones with little pain or discomfort using an intense bean of ultrasound to smash large kidney stones into small fragments and powder that can pass out in urine.

 

What is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)?

 

ESWL is an equipment to treat urinary stones with rays without surgery. During ESWL the stone is localized using an image intensifier and high frequency shock waves are focused onto the stone, which results in its mechanical disintegration into small particles. The breaking up of the stones can be seen on the imaging system. The fragmented stone passes out in the urine. Number of treatment sessions depends on the size and location of the stone. Patients with single kidney and some large stones may temporarily require Double J Stent to be placed by a cystoscope that is latter removed.