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Urinary Stones - Urinary Stones symptom, treatment, causes
Urinary Stones is due to the stones (calculi) that can develop in the kidneys, ureters (which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder) or bladder due to precipitation of sub-stances or crystal formation in urine. The formation of uritlary stones Is also called urolithiasis. About 80 per cent of stones are composed of calcium salts, while the remainder consist of uric acid, magnesium salts or products of protein breakdown. Stories are most likely to form if there is increased concentration of these substances in the urine due either to their itlcreased concentration in the blood or to decreased urine production. They vary in size from microscopic crystals to several centimetres in diameter. The problems caused by urinary stones depend on their size and site.
Kidney and ureteric stones may injure the lining membranes around them lind cause bleeding. or may obstruct outflow from the kidney or ureter, causing URITERIC COLIC and, if untreated. HYDRONEPHROSIS (distension with urine of one or both kidneys).
Bladder stones are most likely to form in chronic CYSTITIS (bladder infection) or chronic RITEN-TION OF URINE, which they Can also cause. They cause bleeding from the bladder, difficult and painful passing of urine, and often lower abdominal pain. Occasionally they may pass into and obstruct the urethra (which drains urine from the bladder), or block its outlet from the bladder, and cause acute urinary retention.
If urinary stones are suspected, the diagnosis can be confirmed by X-ray or ultrasound. Treatment is by lithotripsy (ultrasound shock waves that break up the stone) or surgical removal. Bladder and ure-thral stones are usually crushed during cystoscopy (internal examination of the bladder via a viewing Instrument). The small fragments can then be removed through the instrument or passed in urine. Any underlying cause should be corrected if possible.
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