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Kidney Stones

In pediatric renal stone cases for which either shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) or ureteroscopy would be appropriate, which approach do you prefer?

Jody A. Charnow May 04, 2012

Researchers recently published a study showing that the proportion of pediatric kidney stone cases treated with ureteroscopy has increased significantly relative to the use of SWL.

Urology Practice Setting Affects Stone Treatment Choice

Jody A. Charnow May 04, 2012

Shock wave lithotripsy use more common among community practices.

Page Kidney Resulting in New Onset Hypertension

Diana L. Deitzer, DO, Marc A. Pohl, MD May 01, 2012

A 55-year-old Caucasian woman initially presented to one of Cleveland Clinic's regional outpatient urology clinics with gross hematuria and an obstructing right ureteral stone.

Based on your own experience, do you think higher temperatures increase the risk of urinary tract problems?

Jody A. Charnow April 12, 2012

A recently published study found that increasing mean temperature was associated with urinary disorders.

Kidney Stone Prevalence in U.S. Increasing

Jody A. Charnow April 05, 2012

Kidney stones are a growing problem in the United States, new data suggest.

Renal Cysts More Common in Gout Patients

Jody A. Charnow March 30, 2012

Gout patients have an increased prevalence of simple renal cysts, and these cysts are associated with a decreased likelihood of kidney stone disease, according to Brazilian investigators.

Kidney Stone Removal Via Ultrasound

John Schieszer March 05, 2012

Focused ultrasound may be an effective way to remove kidney stones.

Flexible Ureteroscopy Suitable for Obese Stone Patients

Jody A. Charnow February 25, 2012

PARIS—Flexible ureteroscopy can be an effective treatment for kidney stones in obese and overweight patients, according to data presented at the 27th Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology. The procedure is associated with a low complication rate in these patients, according to researchers.

New Stone Risk Found in VUR Patients

Jody A. Charnow February 01, 2012

Children with vesicoureteral reflux have a higher incidence of hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria.

Diabetes May Hike Urinary Stone Risk

Jody A. Charnow January 05, 2012

Diabetes mellitus independently predicts an increased risk of urinary tract calculi (UTC), according to a population-based cohort study conducted in Taiwan.

Kidney Stone Prevention: 'Fact versus Fiction'

Mark Finger, MD November 21, 2011

According to current estimates, kidney stones will develop in one in 10 people during their lifetime. This translates into nearly 30 million people in the United States. Clearly, prevention is paramount when dealing with kidney stones.

Antibiotics Could Increase Kidney Stone Risk

Jody A. Charnow November 17, 2011

Antibiotics can decrease colonization of a common intestinal bacterium that metabolizes oxalate, perhaps rendering patients more susceptible to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones, according to researchers.

Stone Type Linked To Obesity

Jody A. Charnow November 03, 2011

In patients who form renal and ureteral stones, obesity is associated with a higher risk of stones composed of uric acid (UA) compared with other substances, according to report in the Korean Journal of Urology (2011;52:622-625).

Low Antioxidant Levels May Have a Role in Kidney Stone Formation

John Schieszer October 19, 2011

Lower levels of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin are associated with a history of kidney stones and may indicate a role for these antioxidants in preventing stone formation. John Schieszer has the story in today's Medical Minute.

Chronic Kidney Disease More Common in Lithotripsy Patients

Jody A. Charnow October 05, 2011

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is significantly more prevalent among patients who have undergone successful extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) than among healthy individuals, a Japanese study found.

Antioxidants Affect Kidney Stone Risk

Jody A. Charnow September 19, 2011

Lower serum levels of certain antioxidants may be involved in the development kidney stones, according to a large population-based study.

PCNL Takes Longer with Bigger Kidney Stones

Jody A. Charnow August 22, 2011

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) takes longer to perform in patients with larger kidney stones, as well as those with coraliform stones and hydronephrosis, according to researchers.

Metabolic Syndrome Found To Raise Kidney Stone Risk

Delicia Honen Yard August 17, 2011

Metabolic syndrome is associated with a significantly increased risk of kidney stones, according to a study.

Universal SWL Prophylaxis Challenged

Jody A. Charnow June 21, 2011

MONTREAL—New findings challenge the need for universal antibiotic prophylaxis prior to shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), investigators reported at the Canadian Urological Association annual meeting.

Statins May Reduce Stone Risk

Jody A. Charnow May 18, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Statin use by hyperlipidemic patients may decrease the risk of urinary stone formation, according to study findings presented at the American Urological Association 2011 annual meeting.

Adjuvant Drugs May Aid Clearance of Some Stones

Jody A. Charnow May 18, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Adjuvant use of tamsulosin or nifedipine after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) improves stone free rates in patients treated for non-lower pole renal stones 10-20 mm in diameter, Brazilian researchers reported at the American Urological Association 2011 annual meeting.

Stone Incidence Rising Among Adolescents

Jody A. Charnow May 14, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The incidence of renal stones has doubled among adolescents over a 25-year period, but has remained stable in younger individuals, investigators reported at the American Urological Association 2011 annual meeting.

Flexible Ureteroscopy Safe, Effective for Pediatric Ureteral Stones

John Schieszer May 05, 2011

Pediatric ureteroscopy is safe and effective for treating all upper ureter calculi, but complete stone clearance after a single ureteroscopy is more effective if the calculi is single, under 10 mm in diameter, and below the level of pelviureteral junction (PUJ), according to a study.

Kidney Stones Raise Atherosclerosis Risk

Delicia Honen Yard March 14, 2011

An analysis of data from the CARDIA study reinforces the idea that nephrolithiasis and atherosclerosis have common systemic risk factors and/or pathophysiology.

Stone Make Up, Morphology May Indicate Hyperparathyroidism

Jody A. Charnow February 03, 2011

Renal stones of certain compositions and morphological type may identify patients who should be screened for primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT), according to a new study.

PNL for Staghorn Stones Gives Satisfactory Results

Jody A. Charnow January 21, 2011

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) for staghorn kidney stones provides satisfactory long-term functional results, researchers concluded.

Pre-PNL Nitrofurantoin Benefits Some Kidney Stone Patients

Jody A. Charnow January 21, 2011

Prophylaxis with nitrofurantoin (NFT) a week before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) may help to prevent urosepsis and endotoxemia in patients with larger kidney stones and hydronephrosis (HDN), according to the results of a randomized, controlled trial.

Tamsulosin Aids Stone Expulsion

Jody A. Charnow January 07, 2011

Tamsulosin is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment to shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for renal and ureteral stones, a recent meta-analysis suggests.