Kidney Stones - Is Surgery the only option?

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract. Each year, almost 3 million visit healthcare providers, and more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stone problems. Stones occur more frequently in men. The prevalence of kidney stones dramatically rises as men enter their 40s and continue to rise into their 70s.

For women, the prevalence of kidney stones peaks in their 50s. Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician if the crystals are tiny enough. They travel through the urinary tract and pass out of the body in the urine without being noticed.

Stones that cause severe symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve surgery.

Surgery is not always needed to treat kidney stones. It is needed only when the kidney stone is very large, is caused by an infection (staghorn calculi), is blocking the flow of urine out of the kidney, or is causing other problems like severe bleeding.

Treatment depends on the cause

If kidney stones are caused by a problem with the parathyroid gland, then removal of the parathyroid gland (parathyroidectomy) is the treatment.

Most kidney stones can pass through the urinary system with plenty of water. Water intake should be at least 2–3 litres. If there is a pain, a painkiller is given. Diuretics are given to control hypercalciuria by decreasing the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine.

Lifestyle changes involve avoiding dairy products and other foods with the high calcium content. People with high uric acid levels need to avoid meat, fish, and poultry items in their diet. Eat foods with water-soluble fibres to break down kidney stones. Black tea improves the flow of urine because it is a diuretic. Apple cider vinegar is also said to help dissolve stones.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the most frequently used procedure for the treatment of kidney stones where shock waves that are created outside the body travel through the skin and body tissues until they hit the stones. The stones break down into small particles and are easily passed through the urinary tract in the urine.

Surgery is required when the stone does not pass after a reasonable period of time and causes constant pain; when the stone is too large to pass itself; or the stone is caught in a difficult place, which blocks the flow of urine, causing urinary tract infection.