A small stone "destroyed" a kidney! His experience sounded a wake-up call for everyone

The second Thursday of March every year is World Kidney Day . March 13, 2025 is the 20th World Kidney Day. The theme is " How are your kidneys? Check early to stay healthy ."

In daily life, people often pay attention to the health of organs such as the heart and liver, but tend to ignore the kidney, a "silent worker". Kidney stones , as a common urinary system disease, are not unfamiliar to people, but their harm is often underestimated.

Many people think that kidney stones are "quiet" in the body and never "make trouble", and they don't seem to be harmful. Unfortunately, 75-year-old Grandpa Zhang was "hit", and the small kidney stone brought him a "heavy blow".

Grandpa Zhang usually lives a regular life and is in good health. During a physical examination, he was diagnosed with kidney stones. He wanted to observe first. At first, Grandpa Zhang only felt slight discomfort in his waist occasionally. He thought it was muscle soreness caused by fatigue and did not associate it with stones.

However, as time went by, the pain in his waist gradually intensified, and he even had blood in his urine. He then realized the seriousness of the problem and rushed to Wangcheng District People's Hospital for treatment.

After examination, it was found that Grandpa Zhang's kidney stones had caused severe hydronephrosis, and his right kidney was completely blocked by multiple stones! Long-term obstruction by stones caused hydronephrosis and infection. The originally lively kidney shrank into a paper-thin wall, and the kidney tissue had been irreversibly damaged.

Urology medical staff urgently placed a fistula tube for drainage and gave anti-infection treatment, and Grandpa Zhang's condition gradually stabilized. After a period of time, Grandpa Zhang still had abdominal pain and frequent and urgent urination. Because his kidney function had completely lost, he eventually had to undergo a kidney removal surgery.

" It's such a pity. If it had been taken seriously earlier and received timely treatment, the kidney could have been saved. " Director Wang Jianbin of the Urology Department of Wangcheng District People's Hospital said regretfully.

▲Director Wang Jianbin led the team to perform surgery on Grandpa Zhang

The "power" of stones: the kidney's "journey of destruction"

Director Wang Jianbin said: Although kidney stones are small, their harm should not be underestimated. Once formed in the kidney, they are like a "time bomb" that may cause a series of serious complications at any time.

● Urinary tract obstruction : Stones block the urinary tract, causing urine to be unable to be discharged normally, resulting in hydronephrosis. Long-term hydronephrosis will compress the kidney tissue and affect its normal function.

● Infection and inflammation : The presence of stones can easily cause urinary tract infection, further aggravate the kidney's inflammatory response, and lead to diseases such as pyelonephritis.

● Damage to kidney function : Long-term compression and inflammatory stimulation of the kidneys caused by stones will lead to gradual fibrosis of kidney tissue and eventual loss of function.

In Grandpa Zhang's case, this small stone was like a "demon", eroding his kidney step by step. From the initial waist discomfort, to the subsequent severe pain and hematuria, to the irreversible damage to kidney function, although he underwent conservative treatment with fistula, he still had to remove the kidney in the end. This process was full of helplessness and regret.

Warning and prevention: protecting kidney health

Director Wang Jianbin reminded everyone: Kidney stones are not a trivial matter. They may destroy a healthy kidney without knowing it. Therefore, everyone should pay attention to the prevention and early treatment of kidney stones.

● Drink more water : Maintain adequate water intake and drink at least 2000 ml of water every day to help dilute urine and reduce the chance of stone formation.

● Reasonable diet : Avoid high-salt, high-protein, and high-purine diets, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and control the intake of calcium and oxalic acid.

● Regular physical examinations : Especially those with a family history of kidney stones or those in high-risk groups should undergo regular urinary system examinations for early detection and treatment.

If you already have kidney stones, don't ignore it like Grandpa Zhang did. See a doctor in time and choose the appropriate treatment method according to the size, location and composition of the stones, such as drug stone removal, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or surgical stone removal, to avoid worsening of the condition. Let us start from now on, pay attention to kidney health, stay away from the threat of kidney stones, and protect every organ in our body.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Wei Minjun, Department of Urology, Wangcheng District People's Hospital

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(Edited by YT)