Enlighten us about hydronephrosis

 My uncle’s body has been swelling up and he suffers from pain at the right side of his abdomen. After several treatments and investigations, he was diagnosed with swollen kidney, medically called hydronephrosis. Enlighten us more on hydronephrosis.- Rose X. Thanks Rose for your question and wishing your uncle speedy recovery. According to Helpline.com, “Hydronephrosis […]

 My uncle’s body has been swelling up and he suffers from pain at the right side of his abdomen. After several treatments and investigations, he was diagnosed with swollen kidney, medically called hydronephrosis. Enlighten us more on hydronephrosis.- Rose X.

Thanks Rose for your question and wishing your uncle speedy recovery. According to Helpline.com, “Hydronephrosis is a condition that typically occurs when the kidney swells due to the failure of normal drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder. This swelling most commonly affects only one kidney, but it can involve both kidneys. Hydronephrosis isn’t a primary disease; it’s a secondary condition that results from some other underlying disease. It is a structural condition as a result of a blockage or obstruction in the urinary tract.”

The symptoms:

Normally, urine flows through the urinary tract with minimal pressure. Pressure can build up if there is obstruction. After urine builds up for an extended period, your kidney will enlarge. Your kidney may become so engorged with urine that it starts to press on nearby organs. 

Mild symptoms of hydronephrosis  are urinating more frequently and an increase in the urge to urinate.

 Other severe symptoms include: 

1.Pain in the abdomen or flank

2.Nausea 

3.Vomiting 

4.Pain when urinating

5.Incomplete voiding

6.Fever 

Interrupting the flow of urine increases chances of getting a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). This is why UTIs are the most common complications of hydronephrosis. 

Signs of UTIs include:

1.Cloudy urine

2.Painful urination

3.Burning with urination

4.A weak urine stream

5.Back pain

6.Bladder pain

7.Chills

Causes:

Hydronephrosis isn’t a disease, it can be due to internal and external conditions that affect the kidney and the urinary collecting system. One of the most common causes of hydronephrosis is acute Unilateral Obstructive Uropathy (UOU). This is a sudden development of an obstruction in one of the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. 

The most common cause of this blockage is kidney stone, but scarring and blood clots can also cause acute UOU. A blocked ureter can cause urine to go back up into the kidney, which causes swelling. 

Other causes of blockage may include: 

1. A kink in the ureteropelvic junction, which is where the ureter meets the pelvis.

2. Enlarged prostate gland in men.

3. Pregnancy, which causes a compression due to a growing fetus.

4. Tumours in or near the ureter.

5. Narrowing of the ureter from an injury or birth defect.

How hydronephrosis is diagnosed:

Getting early diagnosis possible is extremely important. Kidneys can be permanently damaged if condition is left untreated for too long. Catheter is used to drain some of the urine from the bladder. If they’re unable to release a large amount of urine this way, it could mean that the obstruction is in the bladder or the urethra. The urethra is a tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. Also, a renal ultrasound or CT scan may be performed to get a closer look at the extent of the swelling and to possibly locate the area of the blockage. 

Treatment options for Hydronephrosis:

Treatment for hydronephrosis primarily focuses on getting rid of whatever is blocking the flow of urine. The treatment option will depend on the cause of your obstruction. If a blocked ureter is causing the condition, some of the options below will be done: 

1.Insert a ureteral stent, which is a tube that allows the ureter to drain into the bladder.

2.Insert a nephrostomy tube, which allows the blocked urine to drain through the back.

3.Prescribe antibiotics to control infection. 

Obstruction might be removed through surgery. If something like scar tissue or blood clot or a kidney stone, then surgery is needed to remove it.