Dr. Abhijit Gokhale has expertise in urinary stone treatment. For larger or more complex stones, He performs minimally invasive procedures such as ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) using small instruments and cameras to remove stones without large incisions.
Kidney stones are clusters of crystals that form from minerals and other substances in your urinary tract. Most stones pass out of your body in your pee on their own, but they can be very painful as they move through.
Causes:
Kidney stones are common. Some types run in families. They may occur at any age, including in premature infants.
There are different types of kidney stones. The cause depends on the type of stone.
Stones can form when urine contains too much of certain substances that form crystals. These crystals can develop into stones over weeks or months.
Calcium stones are the most common. They are most likely to occur in men between the ages of 20 to 30. Calcium can combine with other substances to form the stone.
Oxalate is the most common of these substances. Oxalate is present in certain foods such as spinach. It is also found in vitamin C supplements. Diseases of the small intestine increase your risk for these stones.
Calcium stones can also form by combining with phosphate or carbonate.
Other types of stones include:
Cystine stones can form in people who have cystinuria. This disorder runs in families. It affects both men and women.
Struvite stones are mostly found in men or women who have repeated urinary tract infections. These stones can grow very large and can block the kidney, ureter, or bladder.
Uric acid stones are more common in men than in women. They can occur with gout or after receiving chemotherapy for some types of cancer.
Other substances, such as certain medicines, also can form stones.
The biggest risk factor for kidney stones is not drinking enough fluids. Kidney stones are more likely to occur if you make less than 1 litre (32 ounces) of urine a day.
Symptoms
You may not have symptoms until the stone moves down the tube (ureters) through which urine empties into your bladder. When this happens, the stone can block the flow of urine out of the kidneys, causing pain.
The main symptom is severe pain that starts and stops suddenly:
Pain may be felt in the belly area or side of the back.
Pain may move to the groin area (groin pain), testicles (testicle pain) in men, and labia (vaginal pain) in women.
Other symptoms can include:
Abnormal urine color
Blood in the urine
Chills
Fever
Nausea and vomiting
A risk factor for all stones, regardless of type, is dehydration. Anyone prone to kidney stones should pay attention to good hydration. A randomized trial has shown that drinking 2 litres of fluid a day reduces the likelihood of stone recurrence by about half. The American Urological Association guideline for the medical management of kidney stones recommends that patients who form kidney stones should aim to drink more than 2.5 litres of fluid per day.
The initial evaluation will often include blood, urine, and imaging studies. Decisions about testing, and ultimately treatment, should be made jointly by the physician and the patient. Let's look at specific risk factors and treatments for each of the major stone types.
Dr. Abhijit Gokhale is a highly experienced urologist in Pune who provides comprehensive and personalized treatment for Urinary stone treatment in Pune using advanced diagnostic tools and minimally invasive techniques. With over 25 years of expertise, he offers effective pain management, medical therapy, shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, and surgery tailored to each patient's unique needs.
