Kidney Stones Treatment - Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

A kidney stone is a crystalline and hard mineral material that gets formed within the kidney or in our urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of hematuria (blood in urine) and often cause severe pain in the abdomen, groin or in the flank. Kidney stones are also sometimes called renal calculi. The condition of having a stone or multiple stones in the kidney is known as nephrolithiasis.

However, having stones in other locations in the urinary tract is known as urolithiasis. Any person can develop this disease, but people with certain diseases and conditions or people who take certain medications like calcium-containing antacids, diuretics and protease inhibitors are more susceptible to this disease. This illness is more common in men than in women.

Kidney stones can develop in your body and cause severe pain in the abdominal area and even bleeding or trouble to urinate. Different people are affected by different sizes of stones and due to different causes. Kidney stones are caused when there is an imbalance in the constituents of urine.

Diagnosis of kidney stones is a controversial procedure. Usually to confirm the diagnosis of this illness, imaging tests are performed on the patients. In case of medical emergency non-contrast CT scans are done on the patients, since this can be done rapidly and it helps to rule out other causes for flank and abdominal pain. However, in recent times, as it is believed that the CT scan exposes the patients to significantly more radiation.

Ultrasound scans along with plain abdominal X-ray is used for diagnosing kidney stones. When patients are put on medication, it has been observed that small stones pass out naturally through the urine. However, for larger stones (beyond 9-10mm) lithotripsy is done to break up the larger stones into small pieces, with the help of shock waves, so that they can pass out through the urinary system.

Non-invasive treatments:

If you develop kidney stones that are small in size then it can be treated with non-invasive treatments. You might have to drink up to 2 litres of water until the stone passes out of the body with your bowel movements. Another method would be oral medications like muscle relaxers that help in the elimination process of the stone or even pain relief medicines. Generally, kidney stones are treated through less invasive methods and the need for surgery to remove the stones is infrequent. When large stones form in the kidney or the urinary tract it can cause severe pain, infection of the urinary tract and damage the kidneys.

Surgical Methods:

When the surgery to remove kidney stones begins the patient is administered with general anesthesia. The surgeon then makes a small incision in the back, stomach or side of the patient depending on the location of the stone. With the help of mini telescopic equipment or an ureteroscope, the surgeon locates the kidney stone(s). The stones are then removed or broken into smaller parts with the help of special tools. After the stones have been removed the wound is then stitched and closed. The anesthesia then wears off and the patient regains consciousness. The patient is normally discharged in a day or two after the surgery.

If the kidney stones are formed due to excess production of hormones by the thyroid gland then the doctor might recommend surgery to remove the parathyroid gland. This procedure will help to prevent the stones from developing. This procedure involves the surgeon making an incision in the neck where the gland is located and remove the glands that are enlarged. The patient is unconscious during the procedure and regains consciousness after the effects of anaesthesia wear off. The patient is kept in observation for a few days and usually recovers in a week.

The reasons when surgery is used to remove kidney stones are as follows:

• When the stones are large and complex the doctor will recommend surgery.
• When you have a urinary tract infection because of the kidney stones.
• Those who experience kidney damage because of the stones.
• People who bleed while urinating and experiences a burning sensation while urinating. These symptoms might indicate the need for surgery.
• The need for surgery arises when the patients are above 50-60 years of age or for women who are pregnant.
• When the stone does not pass out of the system with non-invasive treatments within 2 to 3 days.

The reasons why surgery might not be recommended are as follows:

• When the kidney stones are small and pass out of the system within a day or two.
• If the stone can be removed by non-invasive procedures.
• Patients who can be treated by drinking large quantities of water and taking pain medication.

There are a few side effects and complications that can arise from a surgery to remove kidney stones. The side effects are:

• You may experience bleeding and pain as a side effect of the surgery.
• Post operation abdominal pain can be severe or mild.
• It is possible that the kidney stones or the surgery to remove it results in a urinary tract infection.
• In some cases, patients have even experienced kidney damage or even kidney failure.
• A septic infection that spreads throughout the whole body can occur after surgery.
• A patient might pass blood while urinating.
• It is also possible to have a ureter injury if the stone is located in this area.

After the surgery, the patient should follow certain guidelines to ensure a quick recovery. If you experience symptoms like severe pain, fever and blood in your urine then you should contact a doctor immediately.

• Make sure you do not skip any of the medicines that the doctor has prescribed.
• It is important to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• You should follow a diet that includes a lot of vegetables, fruits and fish. Decrease the quantity of salt intake in your diet.
• You should stay fit and exercise.
• Patients might be asked to take a 24-hour urine test post-op to ensure that the stones have been eliminated.

After the kidney stone removal surgery, the patent might be asked to stay for observation in the hospital for two to three days. The patient might not be able to consume solid food so nutrients will be provided intravenously. It is possible for a patient to develop additional stones after recovery. The recovery from kidney stones treatment lasts for a week or two. But the patient must go for a follow up around a week after surgery and regular checkups after that.

Kidney stone operation cost depends on the procedure opted for. The cost of a Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy which is the surgery to remove kidney stones in India ranges from Rs 2500 to Rs 10,000.

The treatment for the removal of kidney stones with Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is highly effective. But it is possible for the patient to develop stones in the future. Surgery for the removal of the parathyroid gland can help prevent a recurrence. But in most cases the surgery to remove kidney stones are successful.

The alternatives to Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy or kidney stones treatment are Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ECSWL) and open surgery to remove the stones.