Hydronephrosis of the kidney

Hydronephrosis of the kidney is a disease characterized by a violation of the outflow of urine, as well as a general impairment of blood circulation in the kidney. With hydronephrosis, there is a disruption of the kidney and a gradual atrophy of the parenchymal tissue of the kidney occurs.

Causes of the disease

Hydronephrosis of the kidney begins due to the fact that the outflow of urine is broken due to some pathological process. The pathological processes that lead to this disease are most often renal stone disease and blockage of the ureter. Also, hydronephrosis can be caused by narrowing of the ureter in any part of it, or it may appear as a result of inflammatory processes or traumas.

Another cause of the disease can be traumatic damage to the spinal cord, in this case, there is a violation of the outflow of fluid from the body, but this is already related to the nervous regulation of this process. In addition, hydronephrosis of the kidney in the fetus is possible, that is, in this case the disease is caused by the genetic program of the person.

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of this disease include low back pain and emerging hematuria (the appearance of blood in the urine). Moreover, the disease can develop for a long time in the body absolutely imperceptibly, and the symptoms begin to manifest only when the pathological process reaches its apogee. It is necessary to understand that these symptoms are not specific, so when they appear, you should consult a doctor who already has an accurate diagnosis.

If the treatment of the disease is not done in a timely manner, it can lead to such unpleasant consequences as urolithiasis or kidney failure. In addition, it is not uncommon for kidney hydronephrosis in patients to have a renal pelvis or calyx so large that it simply ceases to function and breaks. In the most extreme case, when the amount of toxic products of kidney metabolism reaches its maximum, a lethal outcome of the disease is possible.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of hydronephrosis differs little from diagnosing other kidney diseases and consists primarily of medical examination and ultrasound examination. In addition, an intravenous radiocontrast urographic study and an angiographic examination of the arteries of the kidneys are used to diagnose this disease.

Hydronephrosis of the kidney in children, as well as in adults, differs by the stage of the disease. So, if the functionality of the organ is broken slightly, and its renal pelvis is not enlarged, then we can talk about the first stage of the disease. The second stage occurs with the first decrease in the normal function of the organ and its insignificant increase in size. The third stage is characterized by a failure in the body's work by more than 50% and its increase by 2 times. At the fourth stage the kidney simply ceases to work - in this case, urgent surgical removal is required.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of hydronephrosis varies depending on the degree of organ damage. In the event that its function is not significantly reduced, the doctor prescribes conservative treatment, but if the function of the organ is reduced by at least 20%, then in this case surgery is necessary.

The surgical operation is aimed primarily at restoring the normal urine flow, as well as maintaining the integrity of the organ. With a small pathological process, part of the ureter is removed, and in the event that the organ ceases to function more than 50%, the kidney is removed. Remember that the sooner you seek medical help, the more likely that the body will function normally with the most gentle treatment.