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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 the United Arab Emirates

Improvements in kidney stone treatment in the United Arab Emirates include:

  • Thulium SuperPulsed Laser Technology: This technology improves recovery time by treating kidney stones more quickly and effectively.
  • 90-Degree PCNL in Supine Position: This method lowers patient risks, improves surgeon access, and is especially helpful in complicated patients with many stones.

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.


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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.


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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 United Arab Emirates

Burjeel Specialty Hospital, Sharjah: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Burjeel Specialty Hospital, Sharjah

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Burjeel Specialty Hospital is built on an area of 16,000 square meters. It is a 75-bedded hospital with 24-hours emergency services. It has a 24-hours Laboratory & a unique radiology department. Hospital tries to cover every need of patients and to help them in their need hour with all its available medical services. 

The hospital constitutes many centers such as women’s health center, premium care surgery center, heart care center, Bariatric & weight loss clinic, and many others, in order to conduct proper medical care for the patients.

Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman: Top Doctors, and Reviews
Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman

Ajman, United Arab Emirates

Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman located in Ajman, United Arab Emirates is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:

  • The hospital has a 250 bed capacity.
  • Excellent quality of healthcare facilities and services at par with developed countries.
  • Multilingual and multinational healthcare professionals working in the Thumbay Hospital Ajman (belonging to 20 nations and fluent in 50 plus languages).
  • Equipped with the newest facilities to ensure highest standards of healthcare delivery to patients at economical costs.
  • Dedicated, compassionate and highly educated healthcare professionals work in Thumbay Hospital Ajman.
  • Well developed diagnostic facilities are also available.
  • A 24/7 functioning emergency care department and advanced facilities in Radiology.
  • There is presence of an ultramodern Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) and Electrosurgery Cryotherapy in dermatology, Interlocking intramedullary nailing.
  • Also available under dental departments Panoramic, digital intra-oral X-rays, Cephalogram are present.
  • Some of the important specialties in Thumbay Hospital Ajman are:
    • Ear, nose, and throat
    • Cardiovascular
    • Bariatric surgery
    • General surgery
    • Urology
    • Nephrology

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Why Choose the United Arab Emirates for Kidney Stones Treatment?

Here are some of the reasons for choosing the United Arab Emirates:

  • Advanced Medical Technology: United Arab Emirates 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

If your doctor believes your kidney stone will go away, drink lots of water to flush it out. Also, 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.

Kidney stone therapies in the United Arab Emirates typically have a high success rate. While laser lithotripsy has a success rate of over 90% for stones in the ureter or renal pelvis, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has an 85–95% success rate for big stones. Although success rates can vary, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) works well for tiny stones. Although recurrence is possible, preventive interventions including dietary changes might help lower the risk. Most patients recover in 2–4 weeks.

If you have already experienced kidney stones, you are more prone to develop chronic renal disease.

Indeed, the United Arab Emirates offers high-quality kidney stone therapy at a significantly lower cost than many Western nations.

The size and location of the stone determine how long it takes. Smaller stones, on the other hand, may disappear in 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 the United Arab Emirates, use MediGence, which provides a curated list of the best urologists and specialists from the United Arab Emirates' 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.