Also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy, which is generally the removal of the gallbladder, common bile duct, part of the duodenum, and the head of the pancreas.This. Kidney Stones FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about Kidney Stones. What is a kidney stone? Do I have a kidney stone? What are the symptoms of a kidney stone? Do all kidney stones cause pain? What causes a kidney stone? Can I take something to dissolve my kidney stone? How do kidney stones form? Was it something I ate/drank? Can I prevent another kidney stone? What are the treatment options for my kidney stone? What are the signs of a kidney stone emergency? How long does it take to form a kidney stone? What is my risk of forming another kidney stone? Am I going to be able to pass my (insert size here) stone? Which surgery should I choose? What is a ureteral stent? How is a stent placed? How is a stent removed? Why do I have pain after my stent was removed? What is a kidney stone? Kidney stones are the formation of crystalline structures in the urinary tract (which includes the kidneys, ureters, and bladder). The Whipple procedure is a difficult and demanding operation and can have serious risks. However, this surgery is often lifesaving, particularly for people with cancer. Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images. No treatment will cure cirrhosis or repair scarring in the liver that has already occurred. But treatment can sometimes prevent or delay further liver damage. Life After Gallbladder Removal. The following article will give you a detailed explanation of life after gallbladder removal. What one can expect and how does one. Formed in 1984, The Hernia Center medical & surgical facility specializes in hernia surgery using the mesh plug hernia repair operation. This technique lessens. Hypothyroidism refers to any state in which a person's thyroid hormone production is below normal. There are many disorders that result in hypothyroidism, for example. These stones can cause pain, infection, and kidney damage. Stones can be small, from 1 mm to very large, filling up an entire kidney. For pictures of stones, see our stone gallery. Do I have a kidney stone? For patients experiencing their first stone episode, the pain can be so severe and sudden that it stops them in their tracks. Without prior knowledge of what a stone episode feels like, it can be confusing and frightening to go through this amount of discomfort, which is usually described as the worst pain someone has ever experienced. A trip to the emergency room is usually required to make the diagnosis and provide treatment for an active kidney stone. X- rays, usually a CT scan, can be used to confirm that a stone is present. What are the symptoms of passing a kidney stone? Stone pain is often described as stabbing and extremely severe. Women commonly say that it is worst than having a child. The pain can start in the upper back (flank) and then migrate to the abdomen and groin. Changing positions does not help relieve the pain. The pain of a kidney stone is primarily due to blockage of the urine drainage coming down the small tube called the “ureter” that connects a kidney to the bladder. See a diagram of the urinary system. It is thought that the increased pressure stretches the kidney and ureter, causing the pain. This is why stone pain can come and go in waves, as the drainage tube is periodically blocked by the stone trying to make its way out. As the stone moves further down the tube, the pain experienced moves down the body. Other symptoms common during a stone episode include seeing blood in the urine, nausea & vomiting, and feeling the urge to urinate. Once a stone is passed and makes it way out of the ureter tube and into the bladder, most patients describe a sensation of instant relief as the blockage and pressure is relieved. However, stones can take from days to weeks to pass. See a diagram of locations where stones typically get obstructed. Do all kidney stones cause pain? Most doctors feel that kidney stones only cause pain if they are blocking the ureter and trying to pass down towards the bladder. Stones that are not obstructing, such as those located in the kidney’s calyxes, are generally thought to be non- painful. This explains why some patients can have extremely large stones filling up their entire kidney with no or minimal pain. However, it does appear that some non- obstructing stones can cause pain because of either blockage of small tubular structures in the kidney itself (the collecting tubules) or for other unclear reasons. Supporting this view is a recent medical journal article suggesting that the treatment of small non- obstructing “papillary” stones may provide pain relief. What causes a kidney stone? Kidney stones affect 1 out of 1. They are more common than most people realize. There are many factors that determines whether someone will develop a stone with some being under a person’s control while others are out of their hands. Common factors influencing kidney stone development: Gender: Men are two to three times more likely to form stones. Race: Caucasians have the highest stone rates as compared to other races. Age: Stones occur most commonly between the 2. Geography: Those living in hot dry environments are at increased risk. Additionally, those living in the Southeastern United States appear to be at particularly increased risk of forming stones. Seasonal climate: Stone development is more common during the summer months due to dehydration from higher summertime temperatures and possibly also from higher concentrations of calcium in urine resulting from increased sun exposure which can lead to higher levels of Vit D production. Occupation: Those working in jobs with exposure to climate and dehydration are more prone to stone development. Body weight: There are higher rates of stones in those with increased weight and body mass index. Genetics and medical conditions: Individuals with a history of some conditions, such as medullary sponge kidney or renal tubular acidosis are prone to forming stones. Those with a personal family history of stones may have two to three times increased risk of forming stones. Infections: Chronic urinary tract infections can lead to the development of infection related stones, known as struvite stones. Can I take something to dissolve my kidney stone? Patients often ask whether something can be taken to dissolve their stones. Unfortunately, the most common stone types (calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, accounting for 8. However, in patients with uric acid stones, which account for 5- 7% of stones, medication (potassium citrate) can be successfully given to dissolve the stones, helping them to pass and preventing them from re- developing. Patients with the less common cystine type stones (1- 3% of stone formers) can also benefit from potassium citrate and water intake to help dissolve their stones. Cystine stone formers additionally can be treated with D- penicillamine or . However, because of potentially serious side effects from this medication and the difficulty in giving it, this type of therapy is now uncommon. Learn more about different types of stones. How do kidney stones form? There are many factors that lead to the development of kidney stones. For details and a visual time- line of the steps in stone formation, see: How do stones form? Was it something I ate/drank? In most patients, we find diet is not the main reason that caused a stone to form in the first place. Other important factors also play a role in determining whether someone is “prone” to forming stones. In other words, a non- stone- former can eat the exact same diet as a stone- former and never get stones. The Whipple procedure is a complex operation and its results are affected by many factors. To minimize the possibilities of Whipple procedure complications, it is. That said, diet can play an important role in the prevention of future stones. The three most important dietary factors for most stone formers to modify in reducing their risk of future stones are to increase total fluid intake, decrease sodium intake, and and decrease protein (meat) intake. Some commonly held beliefs of foods that promote stones including cola, tea, coffee, and calcium intake have not been shown to be true. In fact, research suggests that increasing tea, coffee, and calcium intake can actually reduce stone risk, while cola does not appear to have a significant effect (Curhan et al, Am J of Epidemiology, 1. See more on kidney stones myths. Can I prevent another kidney stone? Yes!, there are many effective ways to help prevent another stone. Basic dietary changes can reduce your chances of forming another stone by half while more involved medical treatment can reduce that even further. While these changes may not guarantee that you will not form another stone, they can make it less likely that you will have to experience another painful stone episode. See our stone prevention center to find out more. What are my treatment options for my kidney stone? Treatment options for stones include allowing a stone to pass by itself, using medications to help pass a stone, and surgery to treat or remove a stone. Our stone treatment center has more information, including videos and diagrams of stone surgeries to help you better understand your options. What are the signs of a kidney stone emergency? If you think you are passing a stone, signs indicating that you should seek immediate medical attention include: Fever above 1. Fahrenheit. Other symptoms of a urinary tract infection with a stone, including burning during urination, cloudy urine, or bad smelling urine. Persistent nausea and vomiting. Intolerable pain. Certain medical conditions can make passing a stone potentially more dangerous, including those with only one kidney, those with diabetes, or those with decreased kidney function. How long does it take to form a kidney stone? It appears that stones can form in as short a period of time as three months. This is based on research of soldiers deploying to Kuwait and Iraq where the mean time to development of a symptomatic stone was 9. What is my risk of forming another kidney stone? In general, the chances of developing another stone is about 4. In other words, 1 out of 2 new stone formers should expect to develop another stone within the next five years. However, there are many effective ways to reduce the chances of recurrence with simple diet changes. See our prevention center for more details. Am I going to be able to pass my (insert size here) stone? Your likelihood of passing a stone will primarily depend on its size, its location, and how long you have been trying to pass a stone. We go over this in our infographic available here: What are my chances of successfully passing passing my stone? What surgery option should I choose? There are three common surgeries for stones. These include ureteroscopy, shockwave lithotripsy, and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. We go over the pros and cons of each here: How do I choose which surgery to have for my kidney stones? What is a ureteral stent? A stent is a flexible hollow tube placed inside the ureter. It allows urine to drain around a stone and helps the ureter heal after surgery.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
November 2017
Categories |