Nephrolithiasis is a disorder where calcium crystals form in the kidneys obstructing normal function due to certain mineral content in the urine. These stones are termed kidney stones or renal calculi (Chabner, 2007). Stones may become lodged in the ureter, bladder, or renal pelvis. This disease is more common in men, and can be a side effect from other disorders or due to an individual’s dietary intake (Preminger, 2007). Most kidney stones can pass unnoticed, but when they reach approximately 3mm they begin to induce severe pain due to dilation of renal pelvis and spasms in the ureter (Preminger, 2007).
People with Nephrolithiasis have the accumulation of calcium crystals in their renal pelvis, ureter or bladder obstructing the normal flow of urine (Chabner, 2007). In a normal individual the kidneys filtration and voiding would continue without blockage. The kidneys perform filtration, a process that cleans the blood by taking out waste that can become toxic to the body.
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Doctors look for the symptoms of renal colic, nausea/vomiting and pink or reddish urine. Suspecting kidney stones medical staff can perform CT scans or ultrasounds to identify stones in the renal system (Smith 2007). CT scans are more accurate, but have higher risks of radiation (Smith, 2007). Laboratory tests will also be performed for multiple reasons. Urine will be examined under the microscope to view it’s composition(Weaver, 2002). The patient’s blood count will be taken to determine if it has high white blood cells, indicating infection. Blood calcium levels will be measured, since calcium is correlated to kidney stones. The patient will be asked to collect their urine for 24 hours. This will show the urine composition, and volume. The final test would be to collect the kidney stones from the urine using a kidney stone collector cup (Weaver,
The kidneys are located in the posterior section of the retroperitoneal cavity and are small, dark red kidney-bean shaped organs in the lower part of the rib cage (Marieb, The Urinary System, 2015). They are undervalued organs considering how essential they are for the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis. The kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood to produce about 1-2 quarts of urine each day (NIH, 2014). Blood initially enters the kidneys through the renal artery. It then flows into the segmental artery before moving into the interlobar artery. From the interlobar artery the filtrate enters the arcuate artery before branching into the cortical radiate artery, which feeds into the afferent arteriole, before passing into the glomerulus where it begins to filter out waste. The filtered waste is then collected by renal tubule. The tubules drain to collecting ducts and all of these components together makes up a small unit called a nephron. Each kidney has over a million nephrons (Marieb, Blood Supply/ Nephrons, 2015). They filter out wastes that run through different body systems via blood; the majority of that waste is nitrogenous wastes, toxins, excess fluids, electrolytes, and drugs. These waste products are eliminated as urine. While waste are removed vital enzymes, hormones, and water are returned
A 54 year old female was presented with complaints of lethargy, excessive thirst and diminished appetite. Given the fact that these symptoms are very broad and could be the underlying cause of various diseases, the physician decided to order a urinalysis by cystoscope; a comprehensive diagnostic chemistry panel; and a CBC with differential, to acquire a better understanding on his patient health status. The following abnormal results caught the physician’s attention:
The chemistry test shows the levels of electrolytes found in the blood: sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Imbalances in these electrolytes can cause complications, which especially in the case of potassium, can be deadly. Also shown by the chemistry test, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels can show how well the patient’s kidneys are functioning in filtering waste from the blood. Trauma and blood loss can affect how the kidney’s function not only in filtering waste, but also in acid-base balance, and balancing electrolyte levels. Another marker of kidney function is the glomerular filtration rate, which measures the rate filtrate is created by the glomerulus of the kidney (Winkelman, 2016). This is controlled by the kidneys themselves, meaning changes in the function of the kidneys can lead to an altered filtration rate (Winkelman, 2016). Lactic acid is measured by the chemistry test also, and an increase in lactic acid can signify acidosis caused by the lactic acid being formed by cells that do not have adequate oxygen to process glucose for energy (Workman, 2016). This decrease in available oxygen could be caused by damage to or impairment of the lungs. Carbon-dioxide, which is also measured by the chemistry test, can show
Many people never find out that they have had stones in their kidneys. Some stones are small enough to flow through the kidney without ever causing any pain. These are called "silent stones"(Ford-Martin & Odle, 2005) Kidney stones cause problems when they get in the way of the normal flow of urine. They can block the flow through the ureter that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. “The kidney is not accustomed to experiencing any pressure. When pressure builds from backed-up urine, it causes hydronephrosis” (Ford-Martin & Odle, 2005). If the kidney is subjected to this pressure for a while, there may be damage to the fragile kidney structures. When the kidney stone is lodged further down the ureter, the backed-up urine may also cause the ureter to swell. Because the ureter is a musc...
Conforming to Melmed, Polonsky, Larsen & Kronenberg (2011) the waste products of the blood can form crystals which can collect inside the kidneys and aggregate to form stones. Normally the stones are composed of phosphate, oxalate, uric acid, and magnesium ammonium phosphate, single or combined. The type of stone is determined by the pathogenic mechanisms. When the stones are find in the bladder, ureters, renal tubules and collecting system they tend to be symptomatic. When the urine is oversaturated with the stones constituents the stones are formed. During the passage through the renal tubules the crystals aggregate into stones. In order to allow more time for growth the crystals anchor themselves to the renal tubular epithelium in the renal papillae and Randall’s plaques. The concentration of excreted ions is influenced by the diet. The intake of fluids can reduce the stone formation and growth. A reduction in the sodium int...
Results obtained from the diagnosis and tests enable judgments’ relating to the stage to which the problem has developed and will inform decisions on the appropriate treatment method. The advancement of technology has resulted in a range of options for the treatment of kidney stones. A number of these do not require a surgical operation. This requires the patient to be put under anesthesia whilst sound waves of a certain intensity are directed at the stone.
A kidney stone or crystal forms when the urine is supersaturated in regard to a stone forming material, meaning the urine contains a higher concentration of stone material than it can dissolve. There are several factors that can contribute to supersaturation, such as urine volume, pH, and the amount of solute excretion (Worcester and Coe 2009). There are numerous types of stones that can form depending on what material in the urine is in excess. The most common types of stones are calcium kidney stones with calcium oxalate (CaOx) causing 80% of all calcium stones and calcium phosphate (CaP) causing 15% of calcium stones (Sakhaee et al. 2012). Calcium oxalate stones are usually found in patients as white deposits on their papillae, or Randall’s plaques. The stone begins as a deposit of calciu...
Kidney stones, a very common urinary tract disorder that is now really rampant in humans especially. Some causes of kidney stones are still being argued from whether it is due to what is consumed or having a history in the family. There are some common kidney stones which are phosphate, oxalate and calcium. This kidney stones may vary in sizes, in other words if the kidney stones in one that is small then there is a less tendency to notice. Although, most people would notice when they starting filling pains that feel like cramps on the back and the side in area around the kidney or lower abdomen. Due to the blockage of urine by the insoluble salt this causing more concentrated urine.
Urinary Tract Infection, also known as UTI, occurs in two common locations, the bladder and kidneys. The kidneys are important organs that aid in filtering out waste products from blood and maintaining water distribution throughout the body. The waste products are filtered out via bladder, which is the reason of the bladder being the second site for the infection. A normal human being has two kidneys, one on left and right side, a bean shaped organ, and is located at the back of the abdomen. “Each kidney is about 11.5 cm long, 5-7.5 cm broad, 5 cm thick, and weight about 150 grams” (HealthInfoNet, Paragraph 2). Furthermore, a bacterium named Escherichia coli lives in both the kidneys and the GI tract. E. coli is part of the human body and produces
If the kidney stone is larger than 1/4 inch in diameter it will most likely
From the results of the numerous tests carried out according to the patient history of frothy urine with a significant oedema over a maximum period of 5 days, the patient was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome. This is condition that occurs due to leakage in the kidney filtration part leading to a large amount of protein leaking from the blood into the urine. This is mainly due to fluid retention known as oedema which is as a result of low protein level in the blood. It occurs due to abnormal functioning or a part of the kidney is affected (glomeruli). This syndrome can be caused by numerous diseases coming together to cause or form one particular disease; these causes range from minimal change disease, membranous nephropathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and other conditions, disorders of the glomeruli. The membranous nephropathy also known as the membranous nephritis or membranous glomerulonephritis, only causes diseases in adults and very uncommon in children. Leakage occurs from this due to the thickening of the membranous in the glomeruli which is the filter of the glomeruli. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is a causative due to the formation of small scars (sclerosis) on some of the kidney glomeruli. Another form of cause of nephrotic is minimal change which is due to lack of virtual change detected in the glomeruli when examined under the microscope. This causes the syndrome in 9 out of a total of 10 children under the age of 5 years.
A urinary tract infection is a very common infection that can happen to anybody. A urinary tract infection usually occurs when bacteria enters the urethra and multiples in the urinary system. The Urinary tract includes the kidneys, the thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters), and the main tube that carries the urine from the bladder (urethra). Women, men, and children are all immune to this infection. Women have the highest chances of getting it. In the Urinary tract, the main links of the ureters help get rid of any bacteria that tries to enter the urine, and the bladder helps prevent urine from backing up into the kidneys.
Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the urinary bladder. Most of the time, the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, and it’s called a urinary tract infection. A bladder infection can be painful and annoying, and it can become a serious health problem if the infection spreads to your kidney.
These wastes are derived from the liquid and food that the individual had consumed. In cases of compromised kidney function, the kidneys are no longer able to remove or filter wastes in the normal way. This means that wastes are left to accumulate in the bloodstream. When this scenario takes hold, it can negatively impact the patient 's electrolytes, therefore, positive action has to be taken to optimize the situation. When patients follow a renal diet it can help to slow down the advancement of total kidney failure, and ameliorate kidney function. Along with chloride and potassium, sodium represents one of the body 's main three electrolytes. The latter manipulate the fluids with enter and leave the body’s cells and tissues. Therefore, patients with renal disease must monitor their intake of electrolytes. Keeping a daily food dairy is essential (Nephcure), and will be of great benefit to the dietitian who can pinpoint certain details.
Now bladder stones are hard concretions that are usually found in the urinary bladder, they have a definite shape and are a consistency of a chalky stone, as talked about in an article by Susan brown. “Most include some sort of calcium carbonate that can be found in the kidney collecting ducts or the ureters as well.” (Brown) Some cases, the stones will pass causing no harm, and in other they may get stuck in the urethra, which can block urine flow. Bladder sludge is a thickening of urine with the appearance of calcium salts in the urine that do not form into stones. Sludge can involve many different types of calcium salts, in which it does not flow as normal as liquid urine should.