In this episode of the Urology Care Podcast, Dr. Tim Averch discusses what patients need to know about Kidney Stones. The Urology Care Podcast is the official podcast of the Urology Care Foundation. To listen to more Urology Care Podcasts and to subscribe to the podcast, go to: [ Ссылка ] #kidneystones #UrologyCarePodcast #UrologyCareFoundation

There are several types of kidney stones. All of them can be painful. But how you treat them and prevent new ones from forming depends on the type of stone you have.

What causes kidney stones?
Normally, urine contains many dissolved substances. At times, some materials in the urine may become concentrated and form solid crystals. When materials continue to build up around the crystals, they can lead to the development of stones. Stones formed in the kidney are called kidney stones. Sometimes, the kidney stone can travel down the ureter, the tube between the kidney and the bladder. If the stone reaches the bladder, it can be passed out of the body through urine. If the stone becomes lodged in the ureter, it blocks the urine flow from that kidney and causes pain.

Kidney Stones Symptoms
Some kidney stones are "silent," meaning they cause no symptoms. Often, a person knows they have stones when they have sudden pain while the stone is passing.

Common symptoms of kidney stones are: A sharp, cramping pain in the back and side, often moving to the lower abdomen or groin. The pain often starts suddenly and comes in waves. It can come and go as the body tries to get rid of the stone. A feeling of an intense need to urinate. Urinating more often or a burning feeling during urination. Urine that is dark or red due to blood. Sometimes urine has only small amounts of red blood cells that can't be seen with the naked eye. Nausea and vomiting. Pain at the tip of the penis.

Kidney Stone Treatment
Treatment of kidney stones depends on where the stone is, how big it is and what symptoms it is causing. If it's a small stone, we typically give it time to see if it passes naturally without any intervention. But if the symptoms are significant, the stone is affecting kidney function or there are signs of infection, then treatment may be needed quickly.
There are three treatment options:
1. Shock wave lithotripsy, used to treat stones in the kidney and ureter. Shock waves are focused on the stone using X-rays or ultrasound to pinpoint the stone. Repeated firing of shock waves on the stone usually causes it to break into small pieces. These smaller pieces of stones pass out in the urine over a few weeks.
2. Ureteroscopy, used to treat stones in the kidney and ureter. The procedure involves passing a very small telescope, called an ureteroscope, into the bladder, up the ureter and into the kidney. Once the stone is located, it is broken up using laser energy and then removed with a basket-like device.
3. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is used to treat large stones in the kidney. The procedure involves making an incision in the back or side, to allow a rigid instrument called a nephroscope to be passed into the hollow center part of the kidney where the stone is located. An instrument passed through the nephroscope breaks up the stone and suctions out the pieces.

The Urology Care Foundation is the official foundation of the American Urological Association.

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