Highlights:
- 50-year old patient with ectopic kidney suffers from sudden abdominal pain, discovers kidney stones.
- Doctors at a Hyderabad-located renal hospital operate on the patient to extract the kidney stones through a keyhole opening instead of resorting to complicated surgery.
A Hyderabad-based renal care facility on Thursday reported that 156 kidney stones were removed through the keyhole opening of a 50-year-old patient. This is the maximum number of kidney stones ever extracted from a single patient in the country using laparoscopy and endoscopy in lieu of conducting a major surgery, as informed by the Preeti Urology and Kidney Hospital.
The patient who is a school teacher by occupation from Hubli in Karnataka complained of an unexpected and sharp pain near his abdomen. Upon screening, a humongous cluster of renal (kidney) stones was discovered.
This was an ectopic kidney case since the location was adjacent to the abdomen instead of the usual position in the urinary tract. The hospital said that the abnormal location of the kidney was not the problem, however, removal of stones from the atypically located kidney was a demanding task.
Urologist and Managing Director of Preeti Urology and Kidney Hospital, Dr VChandra Mohan, issued a statement mentioning the possibility of the patient developing kidney stones for the past two years without experiencing any former symptoms.
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However, the unanticipated occurrence of pain drove him to proceed with all the requisite tests which uncovered a large cluster of stones in the kidney. Ahead of a thorough assessment of his health conditions in the last week of November, the doctors decided to perform a laparoscopy and endoscopy as a substitute for major surgery.
What Causes Kidney Stones?
Kidney stones consist of hard deposits comprised of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys. They can affect any region of the urinary tract ranging from the kidneys to the bladder. More often than not, the stones are formed when the urine becomes concentrated leading to the crystallisation of minerals which then stick together.
Some of the possible causes that might contribute to kidney stone formation are insufficient water intake, excess or inadequate physical activity, obesity, consuming food loaded with excessive sugar or salt, weight loss surgeries, etc.
Symptoms To Look Out For
Usually, the kidney stone won’t bother much when it moves around within the kidney or travels into the ureters (the tubes linking the kidney to the bladder). However, when it lodges in the ureters and obstructs the flow of urine, the kidney swells and one might experience painful ureter spasms. The early signs include:
- Piercing pain in the back below the ribs
- Pain radiating into the groin and lower abdomen
- Periodic pain with fluctuating intensity
- Pain while urinating
- Foul-smelling urine that is dark, cloudy or bloody in colour
- Frequent urination
- Nausea, fever and chills
It is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional whenever experiencing such symptoms.
