How should I care after kidney stone surgery? Different care methods at different stages

Among the common kidney diseases in clinical practice, kidney stones are a relatively common one. Kidney stones can make patients feel very painful, so they often need to be treated as soon as possible after the onset of the disease. Surgery is a relatively common method for treating kidney stones. After surgical treatment, patients with kidney stones can completely control the disease. However, after surgical treatment, patients with kidney stones also need to combine effective nursing measures after surgery to make the body recover faster. So how should patients with kidney stones be cared for after surgical treatment? In fact, there are different nursing methods at different stages. Let's take a closer look.

1. Postoperative care for patients with kidney stones

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1. Nursing measures for 24 hours after surgery

After the kidney stone surgery, the patient needs to lie flat for six hours without a pillow on the head. During this period, the patient is prohibited from drinking water. If the patient has dry mouth or throat discomfort, and general anesthesia is performed before the surgery, cucumber slices can be used to relieve the discomfort. Six hours after the surgery, a pillow can be placed on the patient's head. If the patient still feels uncomfortable at this time, the angle of the head of the bed can be appropriately raised. If the patient does not feel abdominal pain or bloating six hours after the surgery, the patient can be given millet porridge or light soup, and drink plenty of water. If the patient's limbs are in good condition after the surgery, try to get out of bed as soon as possible, which can speed up the body's recovery and avoid some complications caused by long-term bed rest. Nursing staff should guide the patient to move around and help the patient turn over or get up to sit flat[1].

2. Nursing measures 2 days and 6 days after surgery

Two days after surgery, patients can gradually transition from semi-liquid food to normal diet, and try to avoid constipation. Therefore, they should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, which is conducive to defecation. Of course, drinking plenty of water is also very important. The daily water intake should be ensured to be more than 3000 ml. On the second day after surgery, if the patient does not need to receive other special treatments, he can slowly get up and move his limbs with the help of family members or nursing staff [2]. If the patient cannot get out of bed for the time being, try to turn over and move more in bed. At this time, the color of urine in the renal fistula will gradually become lighter. When turning over, be careful to avoid compressing the tube and try to reduce the strength of waist movement as much as possible. Observe the color of the patient's urine and pay attention to whether there are adverse symptoms such as hematuria. If there are, intervene in time. At the same time, closely observe whether the patient's drainage tube is unobstructed and ensure that the opening of the drainage tube is at the highest level to reduce urine leakage. In addition, the catheter should be cleaned frequently to avoid unnecessary infection caused by the catheter. The catheter should be properly fixed to prevent it from bending or causing urine reflux, which can also help promote wound healing [3].

The picture comes from the Internet

3. Dietary care measures 6 days after surgery

After the patient has recovered from the surgery, they should keep drinking plenty of water and have a daily urine output of more than 2L. If they are worried about the recurrence of kidney stones after the surgery, they can drink more lemon water, which can reduce the probability of recurrence of stones to a certain extent. In addition, they can also drink some carbonated beverages such as soda water, which can also help reduce the recurrence rate of stones. However, they should be careful to avoid drinking some carbonated beverages with phosphoric acid, such as common cola and Sprite, because these beverages are not only not conducive to reducing the probability of stone recurrence, but will increase the probability of stone recurrence [4]. The hardness of water has a relatively small impact on the risk of stone recurrence.

In addition, patients should reduce their intake of high oxalic acid while eating at home. In our lives, there are many foods that contain high oxalic acid, such as cabbage, spinach, beets, leeks, amaranth, bamboo shoots, mustard, malt, okra, chocolate, black tea and cocoa powder. Therefore, during the recovery period after surgery, try to eat less of these high oxalic acid foods.

Generally, patients with kidney stones should maintain a light diet as much as possible within one or two months after surgery, avoid eating spicy, greasy or irritating foods, abstain from smoking and drinking, and develop good eating habits to effectively reduce the risk of stone recurrence[5].

2. The harm of not removing kidney stones in time

If kidney stones are not removed in time, it will not only cause great pain to the patient, but also cause other harms. First, it will cause obstruction of the patient's urinary tract, which is also its biggest harm. Urinary stones will cause blockage in the patient's urinary system lumen, and further cause water accumulation above the obstruction position, which will not only hinder the patient's urination, but also reduce the blood flow to the kidneys, and eventually cause renal tubular degeneration and necrosis.

Secondly, it will cause local damage. If it is a small stone or a stone with high mobility, the damage to local tissue is relatively small, but if it is a large stone and relatively fixed, it will cause the renal pelvic epithelial cells to fall off, further causing fibrous tissue hyperplasia and ulceration, aggravating fibrosis, and in severe cases, it will cause the appearance of squamous cell carcinoma.

Finally, kidney stones can also lead to renal failure, which is also uremia, which can have very serious effects on patients, so it is necessary to receive treatment as soon as possible.

In general, once kidney stones occur, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time, and undergo surgical treatment if you meet the requirements. You should also take appropriate care measures after the operation so that your body can recover as soon as possible and enjoy a healthy life.

References:

[1] Li Ming, Liu Yun, Wang Kaizhen, et al. Application effect of seamless nursing based on mind mapping in patients undergoing kidney stone surgery[J]. Nursing of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Chinese and English), 2023, 9(05): 169-171.

[2] Huang Haijian, Lin Haoqun, Gong Lihua, et al. Effect of rapid recovery nursing intervention on relieving negative emotions and pain symptoms in patients undergoing kidney stone surgery[J]. Marriage, Reproduction and Health, 2023, 29(01): 139-141.

[3] Cao Danjing, Su Manman. Observation of the effect of humanistic nursing care on the improvement of postoperative pain and sleep quality in patients undergoing kidney stone surgery[J]. World Journal of Sleep Medicine, 2022, 9(11): 2195-2197.

[4] Zheng Ying, Guo Jiayu, Luo Songsong. Intervention effect of evidence-based nursing based on ERAS concept on patients undergoing renal stone surgery[J]. Hainan Medicine, 2022, 33(16): 2173-2176.

[5] Hu Xiangdian. Analysis of the effect of meticulous nursing on improving urinary tract infection in patients with renal stone surgery and diabetes after indwelling catheterization[J]. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 2022, 23(07): 1108-1110.