Kidney Stones Treatment in Malaysia

What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are solid lumps or crystals that develop from materials in your kidneys, such as salts, minerals, and acids. They can range in size from tiny to enormous. Nephrolithiasis or renal calculi are other names for kidney stones.

You might not even be aware that you have a kidney stone, depending on its size. Without causing any symptoms, smaller stones may pass through your urinary tract in your urine. Large kidney stones may become trapped in your ureter.

What is the Importance of Timely Treatment?

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs), severe pain, and kidney damage can all be avoided with timely kidney stone therapy. Kidney damage or renal failure may result from kidney stones that enlarge, become trapped in the urinary tract, or obstruct urine flow if treatment is not received.
• In addition to reducing the need for more intrusive procedures like surgery, early intervention helps to relieve symptoms and stop the growth of stones. Early intervention, such as medication, lifestyle modifications, and surgery, can preserve kidney function and improve results.

What are the Common Symptoms of Kidney Stones?

Kidney stone symptoms include:

• Pain in your lower back, belly or side (flank pain)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bloody pee
• Pain when you pee
• Inability to pee
• Feeling the urge to pee a lot
• Fever or chills
• Cloudy or foul-smelling pee

Causes, Risk Factors and Complications of Kidney Stones

Causes

• Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid than the fluid in your urine can dilute.
• At the same time, your urine may lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.

Risk Factors

Types of kidney stones

• Calcium-oxalate and calcium phosphate stones: When you consume low-calcium or high-oxalate diets and don't drink enough water, calcium-based stones may develop.
• Uric acid stones: Uric acid stones can develop from eating animal proteins, such as fish, poultry, pig, eggs, and beef.
• Struvite stones: Struvite stones can be brought on by bacterial infections.
• Cystine stones: Cystine stones are caused by a genetic disorder known as cystinuria. Two cysteine amino acids are joined to form the compound cysteine.

Complications

Kidney stones may increase your risk of

• An obstruction that causes your kidneys to enlarge by backing urine up into them (hydronephrosis).
• Inflammation of the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
• One form of kidney failure that may be curable is acute renal injury.
• Recurrent UTIs (urinary tract infections).
• CKD, or chronic kidney disease.

Latest Research and Technologies in the Treatment of Kidney Stones in Malaysia

Recent developments in kidney stone therapy in Malaysia centre on less intrusive methods and improved diagnostic instruments:​

• Small percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has been reported to have a 96% stone-free rate. This method works well for larger stones because it causes less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and less postoperative pain.
• Second-Generation Dual-Energy CT (DECT): Studies show that DECT, combined with tin filtration, improves the ability to distinguish between stones that contain uric acid and those that do not. This noninvasive imaging technique aids preoperative planning, which may enhance treatment results.

Kidney Stones Prevention Tips

Your risk of kidney stones may be influenced by what foods and drinks you consume. A few of the guidelines to follow to Reduce the risk of kidney stones:

• Consuming a lot of water.
• Restricting the use of animal proteins.
• Limiting salt and sugar-rich foods.
• Limiting oxalate-rich foods.
• Consumption of foods high in calcium.