They help us determine the location of the stone, its size, the degree to which the stone may be causing an obstruction to urine flow, and what types of therapy would be appropriate for management. When suspected of having a kidney stone, we take a history, perform a physical, exam, and obtain radiological imaging. Studies may include a plain x-ray of the abdomen, a renal ultrasound, or a CT scan. We also try to identify factors that may be causing the stones, so we can keep current stones from getting larger and reduce the risk of developing future stones. We work with patients in every stage of their condition, creating a personalized plan whether surgery is needed or not.
Occasionally stones can remain lodged in the ureter or within the bladder. Many stones will pass down the ureter, into the bladder and then be voided with urine. Once stones enter into the ureter the can obstruct the drainage of urine which generally causes symptoms such as pain in the upper back (i.e., the flank) or lower abdomen, nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine. They may cause problems there, or may not be noticed until they move into the ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the urinary bladder). As their name implies, stones almost always start in the kidneys. Kidney stones are conglomerations of crystals that form when concentrations of minerals in the urine become very high. We aim to minimize the duration of the period from symptom onset to resolution of the problem, and to resolve the problem with minimally-invasive techniques that are individualized for your specific situation. We intend to evaluate you and then manage your problem quickly, efficiently and effectively. Our urologists are experts in diagnostic evaluation, surgical therapies, metabolic studies and nonsurgical care, and treat approximately 1000 stone patients a year. As a comprehensive stone program we provide patient services across the entire spectrum of care – working closely with endocrinologists, nephrologists and radiologists to offer the best care possible to you.
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