Kidney stones

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Medications
• Other Treatments
• Complications
• Prevention
• Resources
• References

• Patients who have the most common type of gastric bypass surgery, the Roux-en-Y, are at increased risk for kidney stones, beginning 6 months after surgery, according to a study published in 2006.

• Calcium stones form when there is an imbalance in the urine substances that promote and block the formation of stones. Often, the cause of this imbalance is unknown.
• Having acidic urine or too much uric acid in the body leads to the formation of uric acid stones.
• Struvite stones are almost always caused by urinary tract infections due to bacteria that produce certain enzymes.
• Other stones, including cystine and xanthine stones, are usually due to genetic abnormalities.

• In about 85% of patients, the kidney stones are small enough that they pass through normal urination, usually within 2 - 3 days.
• Certain medications can prevent recurrence of stones in people who are at high risk.
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a technique that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to break up simple stones in the kidney or upper urinary tract. The shock waves are delivered from outside the body.
• Surgery may be necessary if the stone or stones are too big to pass, and cannot be broken down through ESWL.
• A change of diet and increased drinking of fluids, especially water, will help prevent a recurrence.