Kidney Stones Renal Calculi; Nephrolithiasis; Stones - Kidney

<p>What do my kidneys do?<br>our kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist.</p><p>They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine.</p><p>Every day, our kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to your bladder through tubes called ureters.</p><p>What is a kidney stone?<br>A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in a kidney out of substances in the urine.<br>A stone may stay in the kidney or break loose and travel down the urinary tract. A small stone may pass all the way out of the body without causing too much pain.<br>A larger stone may get stuck in a ureter, the bladder, or the urethra. A problem stone can block the flow of urine and cause great pain.</p><p>There are different types of kidney stones.</p><p>The exact cause depends on the type of stone.</p><p>Calcium stones<br>: They are most common and occur more often in men than in women, and usually appear between ages 20 - 30. Calcium can combine with other substances, such as oxalate (the most common substance), phosphate, or carbonate to form the stone.</p><p>Cystine stones<br>: <br>Can form in people who have <br>cystinuria<br>. This disorder runs in families and affects both men and women.</p><p>Struvite stones: <br>Are mostly found in women who have a <br>urinary tract infection<br>. These stones can grow very large and can block the kidney, ureter, or bladder.</p><p>Uric acid<br> stones: <br>They can occur with <br>gout<br> or <br>chemotherapy<br>.</p><p>Common Symptoms:<br> Severe loin pain that comes and goes (in the back or side between the pelvis and lower rib). This is known as renal colic. The pain can move down into the groin or genitals nausea difficulty in passing urine any blockage could cause a loss of kidney function visible or microscopic traces of blood in the urine symptoms are not always present - staghorn stones (see above) do not always cause problems - at first infection of the kidneys is more likely if stones are present.</p><p>Tests for kidney stones include:</p><p>Analysis of the stone to show what type of stone it is</p><p>Uric acid<br> level</p><p>Urinalysis<br> to see crystals and <br>red blood cells in urine</p><p>Stones or a blockage of the ureter can be seen on:</p><p>Abdominal CT scan</p><p>Abdominal/kidney MRI</p><p>Abdominal x-rays</p><p>Intravenous pyelogram<br> (<br>IVP<br>)</p><p>Kidney ultrasound</p><p>Retrograde pyelogram</p><p>Diet can encourage the formation of stones:</p><p>• By not drinking enough liquids not enough calcium in the diet - the best sources are milk, cheese and green leafy vegetables however taking calcium supplements may increase kidney stone formation diets that are high in protein, especially meat, and also high in sodium (table salt) encourage the formation of stones a few people have higher levels of oxalate in the urine (hyperoxaluria). This chemical is from the breakdown of proteins and vitamin C during digestion. The amount of oxalate absorbed in the intestines depends on how much calcium is taken in the diet.</p><p>Possible Complications</p><p>Decrease or loss of function in the affected kidney</p><p>Kidney damage<br>, scarring</p><p>Obstruction of the ureter (<br>acute unilateral obstructive uropathy<br>)</p><p>Recurrence of stones</p><p>Urinary tract infection</p>