Hydronephrosis should be seen by the Urology Department.

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Hydronephrosis requires consultation at the urology department of a formal public hospital. Hydronephrosis refers to the situation where urine produced by the kidneys cannot be smoothly excreted. The primary reason is usually due to obstructions in the urinary tract below the kidneys, such as in the ureter or bladder. Obstructive factors primarily include stones, tumors, prostate enlargement in men, scarring or adhesions in the ureter, or inadequate ureteral motility, among others, often necessitating urologic intervention. These obstructive factors usually require surgical removal, such as using ultrasonic lithotripsy for stones or direct surgical intervention, thus necessitating a visit to urology.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What are the symptoms of hydronephrosis?

Hydronephrosis is often due to obstructive factors in the urinary system, such as stones, tumors, prostate hyperplasia, etc., causing urine to not be excreted smoothly, so patients may have symptoms related to obstructive kidney disease. Since the kidney is in a state of water accumulation, the ureter may experience spasms, so patients may experience pain in the lower back area. Especially in patients with kidney stones leading to hydronephrosis, as these kidney stones can cause severe pain. Furthermore, patients may experience hematuria. If the hydronephrosis is bilateral, it can lead to a sudden decrease in urine output and acute renal failure.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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How to relieve nausea caused by hydronephrosis?

Hydronephrosis with nausea can be caused by various reasons, so alleviating nausea symptoms requires specific analysis based on the specific cause. Patients with hydronephrosis often seen in hospital beds are mostly those with ureteral stones. When the stone is lodged in the ureter, the patient will experience an obstruction of urine outflow, leading to hydronephrosis. Moreover, a stone stuck in the ureter can cause renal colic, manifested as back pain, and may also be accompanied by symptoms of nausea and vomiting. In such cases, treatment methods depend on the size of the stone; if the stone is relatively small, it can often be passed naturally with increased water intake and conservative treatment. If the stone is large, it generally requires surgical removal. Hydronephrosis can also result from prolonged obstruction leading to impaired kidney function and uremia. In these situations, it's usually necessary to promptly relieve the urinary obstruction, maintain urethral patency, and, if the patient has elevated blood creatinine levels, employ dialysis or other methods to bring creatinine back to reasonable levels.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Hydronephrosis should be seen by the Urology Department.

Hydronephrosis requires consultation at the urology department of a formal public hospital. Hydronephrosis refers to the situation where urine produced by the kidneys cannot be smoothly excreted. The primary reason is usually due to obstructions in the urinary tract below the kidneys, such as in the ureter or bladder. Obstructive factors primarily include stones, tumors, prostate enlargement in men, scarring or adhesions in the ureter, or inadequate ureteral motility, among others, often necessitating urologic intervention. These obstructive factors usually require surgical removal, such as using ultrasonic lithotripsy for stones or direct surgical intervention, thus necessitating a visit to urology.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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Is hydronephrosis prone to recurrence?

Whether hydronephrosis is prone to recurrence depends on the cause of the hydronephrosis. Common causes of hydronephrosis in clinical practice are as follows: First, urinary tract stones. When a stone is lodged in the ureter or urethra, it can cause urinary obstruction. The urine produced by the kidneys cannot be expelled in time, leading to hydronephrosis. If the stones in the urinary system can be completely removed, it generally does not recur easily. However, if there are still quite a few stones in the kidney or bladder after clearing the urinary tract, it is more likely to recur, because the stones might move down, get lodged in the ureter or urethra again, and cause hydronephrosis. Second, prostate enlargement. Hydronephrosis caused by prostate enlargement is generally more likely to recur because the prostate continues to grow in size. Even if the enlarged prostate is surgically removed, it still might lead to urethral stricture, thereby causing hydronephrosis again.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What is the best treatment for hydronephrosis?

The so-called hydronephrosis often occurs due to some factor blocking the urinary system, causing urine to not be excreted normally. The most common cause is urinary system stones, but it can also be due to issues like tumors or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The treatment for stones depends on the size of the stone. Stones smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter can often pass naturally. If the stone is 7 to 15 millimeters in diameter, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is typically used. If stones in the lower mid-ureter do not respond well to medication, retrograde removal under cystoscopy can also be performed. For some patients who have had a long-standing obstruction, renal function may already be impaired. If the obstruction cannot be relieved, surgeries such as creating a urinary diversion can be performed. This includes procedures like bladder fistulation, pyelostomy, or percutaneous ureterostomy, among others.