Kidney stones divide into 5 branches like deer horns

On October 11, Dr. Phan Truong Nam, Department of Urology, Center of Urology – Nephrology – Andrology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the stone mass located in the patient’s left renal pelvis was Coral pebbles, about 3x4cm in size, rough, hard surface, dark reddish brown. Coral stones grow silently and do not cause hydronephrosis, so the patient has no symptoms.

Dr. Nam said that if she had been treated 3 years ago when the stones were still small, Ms. Ha would have only needed to use medicine or have the stones crushed outside the body using shock waves. Currently, the stones are large in size and have a complex multi-branched structure. Ms. Ha must undergo invasive treatment using endoscopic mini-tunnel laser lithotripsy (PCNL) or open surgery. To save time, she chose open surgery to remove the stones. Although it is more invasive and requires more recovery time, it is capable of removing all the stones in one surgery.

The team created an incision on the patient’s left hip, then dissected and approached the left kidney, opening the kidney by cutting the kidney parenchyma along an avascular path (an area with few blood vessels on the kidney) to minimize bleeding. blood, preserving the patient’s kidney function after surgery. After 60 minutes, the doctor removed the coral stone from Ms. Ha’s left kidney. Three days after surgery, she recovered quickly, had little pain, ate normally and was discharged from the hospital.

According to Dr. Nam, coral stones account for 10-20% of urinary stones, increase in size quickly, can form a large block in 6-12 months, and have a characteristic branching shape like coral or deer horn. At Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, coral stones are quite common, many cases are discovered when the stones are large like Ms. Ha.

The formation of coral stones is often related to urinary tract infections, so they are also called infectious stones. Therefore, this is considered the most dangerous type of stone. Dr. Nam advises people diagnosed with kidney stones to be treated early according to the doctor’s instructions as soon as the stones are small, avoiding waiting for too long and having to undergo invasive measures such as laparoscopic or open surgery. Coral stones that are not treated promptly can also develop dangerous complications such as pyelonephritis, kidney infection, kidney abscess, destruction of kidney parenchyma, impaired kidney function, and death if infected. germs enter the blood.

People who have had coral stones, people who are prone to creating stones, or have relatives who have had urinary stones, need regular health check-ups to early detect, monitor, and have appropriate treatment measures for stones. People with recurring urinary tract infections or signs of fever, chills, hematuria, or persistent hip and back pain need to go to the hospital for early examination to determine the exact cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Prevent stone formation by drinking enough 2-2.5 liters of water a day, reducing salty foods, reducing excessive meat consumption, processed foods, fatty foods, sweets, and limiting alcohol and other foods. Drink carbonated water, exercise regularly, avoid sitting for long periods of time…