Have you had stones? Do you know how painful stones can be? For many, it is just awful, and it becomes an emergency situation. Stone disease is one of the most painful urological disorders. More than a million kidney stone cases are diagnosed each year, with an estimated one out of ten people expected to suffer from a kidney stone at some time in their life.
This is where Z Urology in South Florida comes in to save the day. Let our team diagnose and treat the problem. There are three ways we tackle kidney / bladder stones. But first, what exactly are kidney stones?
Kidney stones are solid pieces that form when substances normally found in the urine, such as minerals and acid salts, become concentrated and crystallize. A stone ranges in size from a grain of sand to as large as a golf ball. It may remain in the kidneys or travel down the urinary tract into the ureter. Small stones typically pass on their own, causing little or no pain. However, larger stones get stuck along the tract and block the flow of urine, resulting in intense pain, bleeding, or both.
Anyone can develop kidney stones, but those that are MORE LIKELY include:
- Men
- Overweight individuals
- Those with a family or personal history of kidney stones
- Dehydrated individuals
- People who maintain diets high in protein, sodium, or sugar
- Individuals with certain bowel conditions, such as chronic diarrhea and Crohn’s disease
- Gastric bypass surgery recipients
So how does Z Urology get rid of kidney stones? There are three ways of treatment. All involve some form of lithotripsy. If you are not sure what that is, let's read further.
What is a Lithotripsy
Lithotripsy is a medical procedure involved in removing kidney / bladder stones through the use of different processes. Through the lithotripsy procedure, these stones are broken down through the use of laser or shock waves.
This is the most common form of removing a kidney or bladder stone. The procedure involves using shockwaves that come from outside of the body. Z Urology will target the area where the stone is and begin breaking it into smaller pieces. This is a non-invasive procedure. Once the stones have been broken down into a “dust,” they may travel through the urinary tract without much issue. Sometimes the stones may still be slightly too large and further treatment may be required.
Laser Lithotripsy is a minimally invasive form of kidney/bladder stone removal. This procedure involves the use of a ureteroscope. This acts as a camera for your urologist. He uses this camera to navigate through the urinary tract into the ureter or kidney. Once inside, he will locate the stone. If necessary, a stent will then be placed within the ureter to protect it as the stones pass through. Once the stones have completely passed, your urologist will remove the stent. This usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks for the process.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is another form of lithotripsy. This procedure is required when the stones are just too large for other procedures, there were remaining stones after an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or if the kidney stones are damaging the area where they are present.
If you are in need of a urologist in South Florida that can help you deal with kidney / bladder stone pains or concerns, then contact Z Urology for a team that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. Our three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Pompano Beach.
You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!
