Ureteral stone is a health problem that can cause obstruction of the urinary tract. When ureteral stones are not excreted with urine, it can lead to health problems such as urinary tract infection.
What is Ureteral Stone?
What does Ureteral Stone mean? In order to answer this question, it is first necessary to understand what the ureter is. The ureter is a thin tube-shaped structure that connects the kidneys and bladder. In humans, there are two ureters, between the right kidney and bladder, and between the left kidney and bladder.
The stones formed in the kidney are called ureteral stones when they move through the urinary tract and pass into the ureter. These stones can sometimes become stuck in the thin ureter and cause obstruction. Occlusion in the ureter causes the development of severe symptoms in patients. Depending on the size and location of the ureteral stone, different approaches can be applied to patients.
Kidney stones are formed by aggregation of crystalline minerals. Although stones usually form in the kidney, they can also develop in organs such as the ureter and bladder in the urinary tract. Very small stones can be excreted with the urine without causing any symptoms in the person. However, large stones can get stuck in the ureter and block the urine flow.
Ureteral stones are formed as a result of the crystallization of minerals. The crystals that make up the stones can originate from different minerals and molecules. In the light of this information, the causes of ureteral stones can be listed as follows:
- Calcium: Stones consisting of calcium oxalate crystals are the most common ureteral stones. Not drinking enough fluids or eating a diet rich in foods high in oxalate (bag tea, strawberries, spinach, chocolate), consuming foods containing high protein (red meat) and taking calcium supplements increase the risk of calcium stones.
- Uric Acid: The fact that the urine is very acidic paves the way for the development of uric acid stones. Uric acid stones are more common in men and people with gout.
- Struvite: Struvite stones may occur in those with chronic urinary tract infections. These stones occur especially in women who have frequent urinary tract infections. r.
- Cystine: It usually appears in children. The genetic makeup of the child should be considered. Cystine stones can be seen in people with a genetic disease called cystinuria. Cystine is an amino acid, and cystine leakage occurs from the kidneys into the urine in cystinuria. Cystine in the urine can form stones over time. Cystine stones are one of the rarest types of ureteral stones. Certain factors may increase a person's risk of developing ureteral stones. These risk factors can be listed as follows:
- Family History: Stones are more likely to occur in people whose parents or siblings have had ureteral stones.
- Dehydration (Insufficient Fluid Intake): People who do not drink enough water produce a less concentrated amount of urine. The volume of urine must be large so that the minerals do not come together and crystallize. Therefore, the risk of developing ureteral stones increases in people with low fluid intake.
- Nutrition: Salty foods and animal protein sources may contribute to the formation of ureteral stones. Foods containing high amounts of oxalate, such as spinach, tea, chocolate, and hazelnuts, can also cause ureteral stones.
- Some Medicines: A group of drugs including decongestant (removing nasal congestion), diuretic, steroid, anticonvulsant drugs; It increases the risk of ureteral stones.
- Some Medical Disorders: Medical conditions such as urinary tract obstruction, inflammatory bowel disease, gout, hyperparathyroidism, obesity, recurrent urinary tract infections may predispose to the development of ureteral stones.
What are the Symptoms of Ureteral Stones?
Symptoms of ureteral stones may differ according to the size of the stone and its location in the ureter. The most common symptoms of ureteral stones are as follows:
- Pain in the lower abdomen or flank (flank) pain
- Pain and burning sensation while urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Feeling the need to urinate frequently
- Nausea, vomiting
- Fever
How is Ureteral Stone Diagnosed?
The patient who applies to the doctor with the complaints of pain in the lower abdomen, flank pain or bloody urine, some tests are performed with the suspicion of stones.
After listening to the patient's complaints and performing an examination, it is time for urinalysis. Urine test; It is performed to detect minor invisible bleeding in the urine, to investigate the presence of urinary tract infection and to examine the minerals that may cause stone formation in the urine.
Imaging methods are also used in the diagnosis of ureteral stones. Ultrasound method can be used to visualize the stone in the ureter. Ultrasound is a method used to show structures inside the body using sound waves and does not contain radiation. Therefore, ultrasound can be used easily in patients with suspected ureteral stones.
Computerized Tomography (CT) is the method that gives the best results in demonstrating ureteral stones. CT provides detailed visualization of the abdomen and pelvis. In this way, the position of the stone in the ureter can be determined clearly. Changes caused by the stone in the urinary tract can also be noticed with CT. For example, right ureter lower end stone can cause enlargement of the right ureter and right kidney above the pinched part. Left ureter inferior stone affects the left ureter and left kidney in the same way.
How is Ureteral Stone Surgery Performed?
Many ureteral stones are excreted with urine without the need for treatment. So how is the ureteral stone removed? There are some applications that allow the ureteral stone to be thrown out of the body more easily. The most important way to reduce ureteral stones is to consume plenty of fluids. Cranberries and blueberries are thought to protect the urinary system.
On the other hand, ureteral stones that cause fever and infection in the patient should be treated. There are various treatment methods that can be applied for large stones that do not fall out of the ureter spontaneously. It is brought. Thanks to the inserted tube, the stone becomes able to pass through the ureter. Ureteral stenting is a procedure and is usually performed under anesthesia.
Nephrostomy Tube Placement: In this method, a tube is inserted into the kidney to allow urine to exit the body. The nephrostomy tube is inserted if conditions such as fever and infection have developed due to obstruction in the urinary tract. Thus, the urine accumulated in the kidney is excreted and the symptoms of the patient can be alleviated.
Shock Wave Lithotripsy: Shock wave lithotripsy uses sound waves to break the ureteral stone into small pieces. Shrinking stone pieces can easily pass through the urinary tract. After the urethra, the tube comes to the bladder and ureter, respectively. When the stone in the ureter is reached, the stone is divided into small pieces using a laser. In this way, the shrinking stone pieces are excreted out of the body with urine.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: This procedure is generally used in the treatment of stones with quite large or unusual shapes. A small incision is made to the patient at the level of the kidney on the side of the stone. The stone is removed with the nephroscope, which is advanced into the body through this incision. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a procedure performed under general anesthesia.
The doctor may prescribe painkillers to the patient for pain after ureteral stone surgery. Depending on the general condition of the patient, he can be discharged from the hospital on the same day as the surgery. Some patients may need to stay in the hospital for a few days in terms of complications after ureteral stone surgery.
Uretary stones, which prevent the flow of urine for a long time, may impair kidney functions. Therefore, ureteral stone; If it causes symptoms such as fever, bloody urine, severe pain, a doctor should be consulted. Ureteral stone treatment is a condition that should not be neglected.
You can ask the expert team of Group Florence Nightingale Hospitals about the issues you are wondering about ureteral stone and ask for suggestions about your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.
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