Urinary Tract Stones

Question 1

What are kidney stones?

Answer 1

stones of concentrated minerals stuck in the renal system.

Question 2

what is the most common type of kidney stone?

Answer 2

Calcium oxalate (then calcium phosphate)

Question 3

how much of kidney stones contain calcium?

Answer 3

80%

Question 4

what is the gold standard investigation?

Answer 4

CT-KUB (X-ray only picks up calcium containing stones).

Question 5

What are risk factors of kidney stones?

Answer 5

young males, previous kidney stones.

Question 6

what is the presentation of kidney stones?

Answer 6

Asymptomatic - can have no symptoms if they are small.
Renal colic - loin to groin pain (colicky - coming and going).

Other - Haematuria, infection signs, tenderness, testicular or vulvar pain.

Question 7

what type of stones are stag horn usually made from?

Answer 7

struvite stones

Question 8

where are stones most commonly stuck?

Answer 8

vesicle-ureteric junction

Question 9

What is the treatment for kidney stones?

Answer 9

<5mm will pass on their own.

1st line - extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (if under 2cm)
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy - >2cm
Alpha blocker - tamsulosin.

Question 10

what are complications of kidney stones?

Answer 10

AKI - caused by obstruction.

UTI - causing pyelonephritis.