Do You Need Kidney Stone Surgery?
Sometimes, kidney stones pass on their own without treatment. But if yours get stuck, you can opt for a kidney stone removal procedure. An Integrated Shield Plan can also give you peace of mind by covering for your medical costs so you can focus on recovery.
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are hard, lumpy deposits of salt, calcium or other minerals that form inside the kidneys. They are also known as renal calculi, nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis.
Kidney stones can develop due to certain diets, excess body weight, some medical conditions and certain supplements and medications. Often, the stones form when urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystalise and stick together.
Kidney stones can affect any part of the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the bladder. Passing these stones can be quite painful. You would usually only need some pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In rare instances, surgery may be needed if the stones get lodged in the urinary tract or cause complications.
Causes of kidney stones
There are several possible causes, including:
- Dehydration
- Diet
- Obesity
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Congenital kidney defect that increases urinary calcium
- High levels of certain chemicals in urine
If you have kidney stones, you may experience pain in your back, pain when urinating, an urgent need to urinate, or even blood in your urine. If a kidney stone develops into an infection, you may also experience a fever and chills.
It’s important to remember that anyone can develop a kidney stone at any time. If you suspect you have kidney stones, you should consult your doctor for a formal diagnosis.
What is the kidney stone removal procedure?
The pain of passing a kidney stone is sometimes compared to childbirth. If you’d rather not put yourself through that, the good news is that kidney stone removal is quite straightforward. And if you have an Integrated Shield Plan that covers private hospitals and a full rider. You won’t have to pay a cent if you opt for treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospitals.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
Nowadays, the most common form of kidney stone removal is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), especially for สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที smaller stones. This procedure uses sound waves to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces, which means it’s easier to pass them through your urinary tract naturally.
An ESWL takes around 45 minutes, and is usually done as a day procedure. You’ll be given painkillers or general anaesthetic to relax you before the procedure takes place, as well as to minimise any discomfort during the process.