A guide to the treatment of kidney stones
According to Dr. Cletus Georges, kidney stones, also known as nephrolithiasis, happens when hard, stone-like deposits of substances such as minerals and salts form in the kidneys. The most common symptom is renal colic or severe pain that starts from the flank and radiates toward the abdomen or the groin. A person with kidney stones may also experience fever and nausea.
Today, Dr. Cletus Georges shares a few insights on the diagnosis and treatment of kidney stones.
When a person experiences symptoms of kidney stones, Dr. Cletus Georges urges them to see their urologist immediately. Patients then undergo blood, urine, and imaging tests to get the proper diagnosis. Imaging tests can help doctors gauge the size of the deposits and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Dr. Cletus Georges points out that kidney stones come in different shapes and sizes. For patients with smaller stones, physicians typically recommend that they drink more fluids and take over-the-counter medication for the pain, if there is any. There are instances when doctors prescribe medication such as tamsulosin to help relax the muscles of the ureter and allow stones to pass more quickly.
For larger stones, things are more complicated. Urologists usually recommend one of the several types of treatments such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which is the most common type of treatment; ureterorenoscopy, which is often used when a kidney stone is blocking the patient’s ureter; or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), wherein a surgeon takes out or crushes the stone via a small incision into the patient’s flank, Dr. Cletus Georges explains.
Dr. Cletus Georges graduated from Andrews University with a degree in Zoology with a Biomedical option in 1997. He completed his residency in Urology at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center in 1997. He has brought his practice to several places in Florida. For more articles like this, visit this page.
