Which department should I go to for kidney stones?

Written by Wang Jian
Urology
Updated on October 25, 2024
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Kidney stones should be treated by a urologist. For kidney stones, a urology department will perform an ultrasound of the urinary system to examine them. The symptoms of kidney stones mainly depend on the size, shape, and location of the stones, as well as the presence of any obstructions or complications such as infections. Smaller kidney stones often do not cause any symptoms in patients unless the stone falls into the ureter, which can cause acute renal colic, severe lumbar and abdominal pain, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, urgency, and hematuria. If kidney stones are accompanied by a urinary obstruction or infection, patients may experience persistent high fever. If the kidneys have multiple columnar stones, it can lead to impaired renal function and cause renal insufficiency. Therefore, kidney stones should be taken seriously. If the stones are relatively large, consider surgical treatment or lithotripsy.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What department should I go to for kidney stones?

Kidney stones are a urological condition requiring treatment at a hospital's urology department. Diagnosis involves imaging, such as ultrasound or CT scans, to determine the stone's exact size and location for appropriate treatment. If the stone is relatively small, with a diameter of six millimeters or less, referred to as a small stone, it generally does not require special treatment. Increased fluid intake, frequent urination, and exercise can help facilitate the expulsion of the stone. If the stone's diameter is between 0.7 and 1.5 centimeters, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy may be considered. For larger stones exceeding 1.5 centimeters, possibly accompanied by hydronephrosis, the recommended treatments are percutaneous nephrolithotomy or open surgery for stone removal.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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What should you not eat if you have kidney stones?

Since the main component found in kidney stones is calcium oxalate stones, it is necessary to eat less food high in calcium and oxalates in our diet. Common foods that are high in calcium include soy products such as tofu, soy milk, and dairy products like cow's milk and cheese, which should be consumed in moderation. Additionally, it is advisable to eat fewer foods high in oxalates, such as celery, spinach, strawberries, and chocolate. Moreover, if the stones are uric acid stones, it is important to consume less seafood, animal organs, beer, and other foods high in purines. It is best to drink more water every day and urinate frequently to dilute the urine, which can reduce the formation of stones.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is kidney stones serious?

Whether kidney stones are serious depends on the specific size and location of the stones, and whether there is accompanying kidney hydronephrosis or infection. If it is just a small stone inside the kidney, such as one with a diameter of about five millimeters, this situation is not serious. By drinking more water, urinating frequently, exercising more, and combining with medications like stone expulsion granules and stone expulsion solutions, the stones can generally be expelled from the body. If the stones are large and cause kidney hydronephrosis, or even lead to pyelonephritis or renal abscesses, this situation is more serious. It requires anti-inflammatory treatment and timely surgical intervention to remove the stones, relieve the obstruction of the urinary system, and protect kidney function.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Which department should I go to for kidney stones?

Kidney stones should be treated by a urologist. For kidney stones, a urology department will perform an ultrasound of the urinary system to examine them. The symptoms of kidney stones mainly depend on the size, shape, and location of the stones, as well as the presence of any obstructions or complications such as infections. Smaller kidney stones often do not cause any symptoms in patients unless the stone falls into the ureter, which can cause acute renal colic, severe lumbar and abdominal pain, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, urgency, and hematuria. If kidney stones are accompanied by a urinary obstruction or infection, patients may experience persistent high fever. If the kidneys have multiple columnar stones, it can lead to impaired renal function and cause renal insufficiency. Therefore, kidney stones should be taken seriously. If the stones are relatively large, consider surgical treatment or lithotripsy.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
51sec home-news-image

Is kidney stone surgery painful?

For the treatment of kidney stones, larger kidney stones or multiple stones, stag-horn stones might consider surgical treatment. There are two types of surgery, the first is percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which involves inserting a nephroscope through a puncture in the kidney to break up and expel the stones from the body; the second type of surgery is ureteroscopy, which does not require an incision, by entering the kidney through the urethra and ureter, and then breaking up the stones and expelling them from the body. Both surgical methods are performed under anesthesia, so the patient will not feel pain. However, pain after ureteroscopy is typically less than that after percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which requires absolute bed rest post-operation, while ureteroscopy does not.