Early detection of kidney stones from colic pain

Renal colic occurs when a stone enters the ureter and blocks the flow of urine, especially when the stone moves. It can be confused with many other types of pain, but renal colic is usually acute and requires emergency treatment.

“Misleading” pain

The underlying cause of renal colic may be urinary stones, ureteral thrombosis, or external compression of the ureter by a tumor. These phenomena cause acute obstruction of the urinary tract, leading to hydronephrosis and distension of the renal pelvis. Only sudden distension causes renal colic.

The underlying cause of renal colic may be urinary stones. Illustration photo

Ureteral stones are the most common cause. Stones that cause urinary retention increase pressure in the renal pelvis, causing damage to the ureter leading to gross hematuria. To diagnose ureteral stones, a renal X-ray is needed to detect stones in the path of the ureter. On the renal and urinary ultrasound, the image of a dilated renal pelvis is an indirect sign of ureteral stones.

Renal pelvis hemorrhage, ureteral stricture, renal pelvis stones, ureteral tumors, bladder tumors causing narrowing of the ureteral opening into the bladder... are also causes of renal colic.

However, renal colic is often confused with acute appendicitis. In some cases, appendicitis is diagnosed, but the pain does not go away after surgery, and X-rays reveal stones in the lower third of the ureter.

Renal colic is also easily confused with liver colic due to gallstones or acute gastroduodenal pain.

Differential diagnosis of renal colic. Illustration photo

Kidney stone prevention

To prevent kidney stones, urine and blood tests are needed to find out the nature of the stones and the risk factors for forming stones. Drinking plenty of water helps increase urine flow to limit stone formation. You need to drink more than 2 liters of water per day.

If it is calcium stones, the patient needs to eat a low-salt diet and avoid eating a lot of meat. Eat a diet rich in calcium and can supplement calcium.

If it is urate stones, it is necessary to reduce the amount of uric acid in the blood by using drugs that increase uric acid excretion such as alkalizing the urine and using drugs that reduce uric acid synthesis (allopurinol).

According to VNN