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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.

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

  • Thailand is pioneering kidney stone therapy with minimally invasive treatments such as laser lithotripsy, robotic-assisted surgery, and ureteral stenting.
  • Recent research has focused on urinary microbiomes, potassium citrate therapy, and epidemiological studies to improve preventative and treatment outcomes.

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.

Treatment options for Kidney Stones

Kidney Stone Removal: Ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy are two methods for removing kidney stones. A small tube is inserted through the urethra and bladder into the ureter or kidney during ureteroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure used to remove or break down kidney stones. Large kidney stones can be surgically removed with a percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which is performed under imaging guidance through a tiny back incision.


Cost Start From USD 3500 - USD 4800Explore Options

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL): Using sound waves to produce powerful vibrations known as shock waves, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) breaks up the stones into little fragments that can be eliminated through urine.


Cost Start From USD 4500 - USD 6000Explore Options

Your doctor may perform the following diagnostic tests and procedures if they think you have a kidney stone:

  • Blood testing: Your blood may have excessive uric acid or calcium levels, according to blood tests.
  • Urine testing: The 24-hour urine collection test results may indicate that you are excreting either too few chemicals that prevent stones or too many minerals that cause them.
  • X-ray (KUB - Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder): Offers a basic picture of the kidneys and urinary tract stones.
  • Ultrasound: Non-invasive and frequently used to find stones, particularly in pregnant women or young children.
  • CT Scan: Offers the most detailed view and is the gold standard for detecting kidney stones, including size, location, and type.

The goals of kidney stone rehabilitation are to control symptoms, stop recurrence, and enhance general kidney health:

  • Hydration: Consuming a lot of liquids aids in the removal of minor stones and stops the formation of new ones.
  • Dietary modifications: Reducing salt, foods high in oxalate, or animal protein, for example, can help avoid kidney stones by modifying the diet according to the kind of kidney stones.
  • Physical Activity: Regular exercise can help keep the kidneys healthy overall and facilitate the transit of smaller stones.

A healthcare professional may recommend or prescribe medications if your kidney stone is self-resolving and not causing infection to:

  • To aid in the passage of stones, relax your ureter.
  • Control your nausea and vomiting.
  • Manage pain conditions

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Hospitals for Kidney Stones in Thailand

Piyavate Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Piyavate Hospital

Bangkok, Thailand

Piyavate Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • Medicine Centre: Piyavate Hospital provides advanced holistic treatment for their patients. They offer a complete range of services and physicians that specialize in various fields like the endocrine system, the nervous system, kidney function, cardiovascular care, respiratory and digestive system. They pride themselves for the familial care that they provide to their patients.

  • Fertility and In-Vitro Fertilization Centre: Helping the couples who walk into the Piyavate Hospital to achieve their dream of having a family. They have a medical team that specializes in male and female fertility. They offer consultation services, fertility check-up for both men and women and complete IVF services. They have advanced IVF cycle treatment facilities that offer a high rate of success.

  • Bone and Joint Institute: Piyavate Hospital houses one of the frontrunners in Orthopaedic health care in all of SouthEast Asia. They offer a wide range of services and surgeries in their bone and joint institute that include hand surgery, hip and knee replacement surgery, spinal cord surgery, upper extremity surgery, arthroscopic surgery and sports medicine.

  • Eye and Lasik Centre: Piyavate Hospital is fully equipped with the latest and most advanced technology for eye care and houses highly skilled ophthalmologists, sub-specialists and qualified nurses.

  • Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centre: One of the first hospitals to be equipped with the Hybrid Assistive Limb technology that will help a neurologically challenged patient to control the rehabilitation robot limb with a signal from their brain. The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centre at Piyavate Hospital uses this system encourage patients to regain muscle memory to walk and function normally.

Amenities for Patient’s Family:

Piyavate Hospital also offers additional apartment facilities to house the kin of the patients who come to visit them from distant places. A restaurant, a flower shop and a café are a few of the other amenities provided by the hospital.

These are the most popular services offered by the Piyavate Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. They also provide a plethora of other medical services that are listed below:

  • Diabetic Foot Centre

  • Check-up centre

  • Urology Centre 

  • Heart Institute

  • Paediatric Centre 

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre

  • Surgery Centre

  • Ear Nose Throat Centre

  • Haemodialysis Centre 

  • Dental Centre

  • X-Ray Centre

  • Gastroenterology Centre

  • Cancer Centre

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

  • Emergency Services and Centre

  • Tele-medicine

Bangpakok 9 International Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Bangpakok 9 International Hospital

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangpakok 9 International Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • It would be prudent to summarise the Medical Services provided at the Bangpakok 9 International Hospital (BPK 9), Bangkok, Thailand:
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Dental Implants
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
  • Exercise Stress Test
  • Health Screening
  • Laser Vagina Firming
  • Pediatric Physical Therapy
  • Perfect Slim by Vela II
  • Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal
  • Prosthodontics
  • The Medical Services are also inclusive of the International Patient Services such as the ones listed here:
  • Thai, English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladeshi, Bahasa and Tagalog are the languages in which there are Translation services available for International Patients.
  • Visa extension related assistance
  • International health insurance related assistance
  • Embassy and international organizations related assistance
  • A variety of meals of choice for International Patients
  • Email consultation services
  • Transfer to either airport and/or hotels
  • Prayer room
  • Four different types of rooms are available such as Deluxe room, two kinds of suites, and a VIP suite.
  • Hospital facilities like The Coffee shop, Food Hall, Cafe and Medical Spa.
  • Complete health and safety protocols are maintained in the various Medical Centers some of whom are as follows:
  • Aesthetic Center
  • 24 Hour Emergency Center
  • Allergy Center
  • Breast Center
  • bSmart Center
  • Checkup Center
  • Dental Center,
  • Happy Long Life Center
  • Medical Fitness Center
  • Psychiatric Center
  • Rehabilitation Center
  • Sleep Disorders Center
Bangkok Hospital: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Bangkok Hospital

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok Hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • It is recognised for the application of the newest healthcare technology.
  • Blood analysis center that is not just the best in Thailand but in Asia Pacific as well.
  • Biomolecule center that is the seed of healthcare equipment for Thailand and overseas.
  • International affiliations and collaborations with universities and hospitals in Japan and the United States of America.
  • 11 hospitals are recognised as Centers of Excellence.
  • Known excellence in Trauma, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Neurology as well as Cancer Care.
  • There is a proper streamlined patient services process followed in Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Bangkok, Thailand.
  • A well developed research center showcases the intent of the organisation to provide research based treatment opportunities to the patients.
  • The group has several Medical industry partnerships as well to ensure healthcare solutions.

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Why Choose Thailand for Kidney Stones Treatment?

Here are some of the reasons for choosing Thailand:

  • Advanced Medical Technology: Thailand provides cutting-edge kidney stone therapies.
  • Experienced Specialists: Highly trained urologists who specialise in treating complicated conditions.
  • Affordable Care: High-quality care is far cheaper than in Western countries.
  • Accredited Hospitals: Many hospitals are internationally recognised, which ensures high medical standards.
  • Seamless Medical Tourism: Support for international patients, including travel arrangements and multilingual services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Drink lots of water to flush out your kidney stone if your doctor believes it will go away. As directed by your physician, take any prescribed medication as directed, and abide by their dietary and drink instructions.

Sixty per cent of kidney stones larger than 6 mm and ninety per cent of kidney stones smaller than 6 mm pass on their own. You will require a procedure to break up and/or remove a kidney stone if it is large or obstructing your urine flow. Smaller stones that were supposed to pass by themselves can occasionally expand or shift, blocking the flow.

The success rate for kidney stone therapy in Thailand is generally high, depending on the approach used and the severity of the illness. Minimally invasive techniques have success rates of 85% to 95% for effectively fragmenting and removing stones. Surgical therapies have success rates ranging from 90% to 98%, with the outcome dependent on the size and placement of the stone. These excellent success rates are attributed to Thai urologists' expertise and the use of innovative medical tools accessible in the country's premier facilities.

You are more likely to get kidney stones again and develop chronic renal disease if you have already had kidney stones.

Yes, kidney stone treatment in Thailand is substantially less expensive than in many Western nations while maintaining high-quality care.

The size and location of the stone affect how long it takes. While larger stones can take longer or necessitate medical intervention, smaller ones might disappear in a few days.

A stone that becomes lodged may cause excruciating pain, infection, or obstruction, necessitating medical assistance to break or remove it.

The length of recovery varies according to the type of surgery. Recovery times can range from a few days for less invasive operations like ureteroscopy to a few weeks for more invasive treatments like percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Following removal or passage, a stone may be sent for analysis to ascertain its composition (such as uric acid or calcium oxalate), which aids in directing preventative measures.

To find a qualified kidney stone specialist in Thailand, use MediGence, which provides a curated list of the best urologists and specialists from Thailand's major hospitals. MediGence allows you to explore the profiles of professionals, check their credentials, reviews, and experience, and even schedule online appointments. The platform also assists you in locating the top hospitals for kidney stone treatment and offers specialised guidance to guarantee you obtain the best possible care for your illness.