“Can kidney stone surgery damage kidneys?”
I will have surgery for kidney stones. Can kidney stone surgery damage kidneys?
5 Answers
Surgery for kidney stones is generally considered safe and is often necessary when kidney stones are too large to pass naturally, are causing severe pain, or are blocking the urinary tract. However, like any medical procedure, there are potential risks associated with kidney stone surgery. It's essential to discuss these risks with your healthcare provider before the surgery to make an informed decision. Here are some considerations:
1. **Infection:** There is a small risk of infection associated with any surgical procedure, including kidney stone surgery. Your healthcare team will take precautions to minimize this risk, such as administering antibiotics when needed.
2. **Bleeding:** Surgery can sometimes cause bleeding, either during the procedure or afterward. Your surgeon will take measures to control bleeding during surgery, and you may be monitored for any signs of bleeding or hematoma formation after the procedure.
3. **Kidney Damage:** Kidney stone surgery is specifically designed to remove or break up kidney stones without causing harm to the kidney tissue. However, in rare cases, there can be complications that affect the kidneys, such as injury to nearby structures or infection. This risk is generally low, especially when the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon.
4. **Scarring:** Some types of kidney stone surgery, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), involve making small incisions to access and remove the stones. These incisions may result in scarring, but this is typically minimal and should not significantly impact kidney function.
5. **Urinary Tract Injury:** Surgery for kidney stones may involve navigating through the urinary tract to access the stones. There is a small risk of injury to the ureter or other urinary structures during the procedure. Your surgeon will take precautions to minimize this risk.
It's important to discuss the specific surgical approach and potential risks with your healthcare provider. They can provide you with detailed information about the procedure and address any concerns you may have. In many cases, the benefits of kidney stone surgery in terms of relieving pain and preventing complications related to the stones outweigh the risks.
After the surgery, it's essential to follow your healthcare provider's instructions for recovery and post-operative care. This may include taking medications, staying hydrated, and making dietary or lifestyle changes to prevent the formation of new kidney stones.
If you have concerns about the surgery or potential risks, don't hesitate to seek a second opinion or discuss your questions with your healthcare team. They can provide you with the information and support you need to make the best decisions for your health.
1. **Infection:** There is a small risk of infection associated with any surgical procedure, including kidney stone surgery. Your healthcare team will take precautions to minimize this risk, such as administering antibiotics when needed.
2. **Bleeding:** Surgery can sometimes cause bleeding, either during the procedure or afterward. Your surgeon will take measures to control bleeding during surgery, and you may be monitored for any signs of bleeding or hematoma formation after the procedure.
3. **Kidney Damage:** Kidney stone surgery is specifically designed to remove or break up kidney stones without causing harm to the kidney tissue. However, in rare cases, there can be complications that affect the kidneys, such as injury to nearby structures or infection. This risk is generally low, especially when the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon.
4. **Scarring:** Some types of kidney stone surgery, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), involve making small incisions to access and remove the stones. These incisions may result in scarring, but this is typically minimal and should not significantly impact kidney function.
5. **Urinary Tract Injury:** Surgery for kidney stones may involve navigating through the urinary tract to access the stones. There is a small risk of injury to the ureter or other urinary structures during the procedure. Your surgeon will take precautions to minimize this risk.
It's important to discuss the specific surgical approach and potential risks with your healthcare provider. They can provide you with detailed information about the procedure and address any concerns you may have. In many cases, the benefits of kidney stone surgery in terms of relieving pain and preventing complications related to the stones outweigh the risks.
After the surgery, it's essential to follow your healthcare provider's instructions for recovery and post-operative care. This may include taking medications, staying hydrated, and making dietary or lifestyle changes to prevent the formation of new kidney stones.
If you have concerns about the surgery or potential risks, don't hesitate to seek a second opinion or discuss your questions with your healthcare team. They can provide you with the information and support you need to make the best decisions for your health.
Usually not, but limited damage might occur.
Kidney stone surgery can potentially damage kidneys, but that is very unusual. Certainly, the removal of a piece of a kidney for a tumor or other disorder will result in the loss of kidney tissue. However, kidney stone surgery, which is usually not invasive to the kidneys, rarely results in kidney damage.
Normally, no. Start drinking plum juice and stay hydrated with 2 liters daily of fluids minimum.
Hey Dear, I hope you are feeling well after the surgery, and I hope the procedure achieved its goal. Yes, some urological interventions can cause kidney damage as a complication of the process. But these side-effects are well-known and usually easily manageable. So again, I hope you feel well.
