Many diseases that a person faces often occur in a latent form, as a result of which their treatment is difficult. One of these is hydrocalycosis (calicoectasia) of the kidneys - a condition in which the pyelocaliceal apparatus of the organ stretches, squeezing the kidney tissue.
Hydrocalycosis is not an isolated disease, but only a syndrome of other abnormalities in the functioning of the urinary organs. The condition can be bilateral or unilateral. Bilateral hydrokaliosis is diagnosed in only 20% of cases of pathology. To establish the exact cause of this syndrome, it is necessary to undergo a series of studies. Only by knowing the factors that provoked this condition can adequate therapy be prescribed.
What it is?
Hydrocolicosis leads to expansion of the pelvis and calyces, which, in turn, compress the tissues and lead to a malfunction of the kidneys. This disease is not an independent pathology, but is a consequence of the manifestation of diseases of the urinary system and impaired passage of urine in the kidneys.
When the pelvis and calyces dilate at any stage, an obstruction is formed that makes it difficult for urine to pass through. If such a pathology has formed on one side of the urinary system, then it is generally accepted that hydrocalycosis of the right kidney or, respectively, the left kidney has begun. We bring to your attention another article about a left kidney cyst.
, bilateral hydrocalycosis may occur . In this process, both kidneys are affected and the prognosis for recovery is worse than with unilateral hydrocalycosis. If treatment is not started on time, it will lead to kidney failure.
Features of the disease
Very often, the inflammatory process in the organ or the formation of stones is accompanied by hydrocalycosis.
The expansion of the renal collecting system occurs due to the fact that a block is formed in some part of the urinary system, which makes it difficult to pass urine. If a violation of the outflow of urine occurs on only one side, then hydrocalycosis of the right or left kidney develops.
In case of damage to both organs, bilateral renal hydrocalycosis is formed. Moreover, this kidney condition can occur in both organs simultaneously or be extended over time. With bilateral lesions, the prognosis for the course of the disease is not as favorable as with unilateral lesions. In case of improper and untimely treatment, kidney failure may develop.
Causes of hydrocalycosis
If a patient develops hydrocalycosis of the kidneys, then the cause of this pathology can be not only pathological processes in the urinary system, but also diseases of other organs and systems in the body. As is known, hydrocalycosis leads to dilation of the renal pelvis.
The patient's urine passage is disrupted, it accumulates in the calyces and pelvis, resulting in compression of the kidney tissue. The blood supply is disrupted, and when an infection occurs, inflammation occurs.
There are several main reasons when hydrocalycosis can develop:
- Nephroptosis;
- Neoplasms of various types in kidney tissues;
- Tuberculosis;
- Nephrolithiasis;
- Congenital pathology of the vascular system;
- Abdominal tumors;
- Damage to the lymphatic vessels that are located behind the abdominal cavity.
According to the results of many years of research, it has been proven that the left kidney is less often affected by hydrocalycosis than the right. But bilateral kidney damage occurs in only 20% of patients.
Causes of development and types of pathology
Based on the nature of hydrocalycosis, it can be argued that it is associated with a violation of the flow of urine from the kidneys due to blockage of the duct to the bladder.
Depending on the location of the pathological process, calictoectasia occurs:
- right kidney;
- left kidney;
- bilateral (15-20% of cases).
Hydrocalycosis of the left kidney is found less frequently than the right kidney, which is caused by physiological characteristics. The right kidney is more mobile, located approximately 1 cm lower than the left. Pathology of the right kidney can often be observed in women during pregnancy. In this condition, the uterus deviates to the right, pressing on the bladder, which leads to difficulty in the outflow of urine. As a rule, after the birth of the baby, everything returns to normal.
Unilateral hydrocalycosis is easier to treat than bilateral hydrocalycosis. The course of a bilateral process has a more unfavorable prognosis, and its treatment regimen is more complex. Kidney failure may develop.
The causes that cause pathology can be renal (direct) and enterorenal (indirect).
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Immediate causes include diseases:
- urolithiasis disease;
- kidney tuberculosis;
- tumors;
- nephroptosis;
- anomalies of the cup, in which it is compressed;
- kidney prolapse;
- trauma and inflammation.
Enterorenal causes:
- abnormalities of the vascular system;
- defects of the lymphatic system, including enlarged lymph nodes that compress the urinary organs;
- neoplasms in the abdominal cavity;
- congenital defect of the entire urinary system.
Reference! Renal diseases cause deterioration of the patient's condition more quickly than enterorenal diseases. But recovery occurs faster with the treatment.
Symptoms of hydrocalycosis of the kidneys
Without proper diagnosis, it is not possible to determine hydrocalycosis of the kidneys. The symptoms of this disease are identical to other pathologies of the urinary system. The severity of the disease will depend on how quickly the disturbance in the outflow of urine develops. The faster the passage of urine is disrupted, the brighter the manifestations of the disease become.
There are several important symptoms of hydrocalycosis of the kidneys:
- Increased body temperature to high levels, chills. Also, the temperature may drop sharply after the outflow of urine;
- Sharp pain in the lower back, which radiates to the lateral abdomen and groin area at the site of localization of the inflammatory process;
- Pain and discomfort when touching the lumbar region;
- Nausea, vomiting and general intoxication of the whole body;
- Frequent urge to go to the toilet, with small portions of urine. There is no pain or pain when urinating, as with cystitis;
- The urine comes out cloudy with a foul odor;
- Blood in the urine may occur, depending on the cause of hydrocalycosis.
Prognosis for recovery
After completing a full course of drug treatment or after surgery, a short rehabilitation period follows. But even with complete recovery, the likelihood of the disease returning remains.
If the cause of hydrocalycosis was the presence of urinary stone or sand, then the risk of recurrence of the disease is very high.
In any case, it is necessary to pay attention to the alarming symptoms that may appear after injuries in the abdomen and groin or inflammatory processes in the body. If you consult a doctor in a timely manner and quickly diagnose the disease, the likelihood of developing complications and irreversible disorders is very low.
Treatment of hydrocalycosis
If, based on the diagnostic results, the patient is diagnosed with hydrocalycosis of the kidneys, then treatment should be prescribed by a highly qualified urologist. He will conduct an examination,, if necessary, prescribe an additional examination and select an effective treatment method to eliminate the causes of dilation of the pelvis in the kidneys.
Hydrocalycosis most often occurs in pregnant women. This is due to the anatomical features of the structure of the urinary system. The right kidney is lower than the left, and it is more mobile. If treatment is not started in time, this can lead to the development of hydronephrosis.
Bilateral hydrocalycosis can cause the development of renal failure and urosepsis. Therefore, it is very important for a positive prognosis to begin timely treatment.
There are several methods of the treatment process:
- A surgical intervention that removes an anatomical obstacle to the outflow of urine;
- To perform the operation, you need to get rid of the inflammatory process in the kidneys;
- The patient is prescribed a course of antibacterial therapy, under the control of urine culture for sensitivity to a certain group of antibiotics;
- Carrying out endoscopic intervention in the abdominal cavity;
- Classic surgical intervention, which depends on the severity and degree of development of hydrocalycosis.
The prognosis of the disease depends on the causes of hydrocalycosis and methods for its elimination. If a patient is found to have a stone that blocks the outflow of urine, then its removal will greatly reduce the symptoms of hydrocalycosis of the kidneys. When the cause is a congenital pathology of the structure of the urinary system, then complete recovery can occur only after surgery.
If the cause is a tumor, the prognosis depends on the extent and removal of the tumor. Hydrocolicosis of the kidneys can be a symptom of many diseases where there is a violation of the outflow of urine. Only modern diagnostic and treatment methods will help restore health and life to the patient.
Treatment using traditional medicine methods
Traditional medicine is used to prevent and treat inflammation in the urinary system.
A tincture and decoction of the following medicinal plants helps well with the expansion of the pelvis and calyces:
- Lingonberry leaves. Pour 2 tablespoons of leaves into a glass of boiling water;
- Bearberry grass. A spoonful of herbs is poured with 200 ml of boiling water;
- Medicines with natural ingredients. These are cystone, canephron, phytolysin. How to use cystone: before or after meals can be found here.
Diagnosis and treatment methods
Due to the fact that the symptoms of calicoectasia are nonspecific and may be signs of other diseases, a thorough examination should be performed to identify it. Diagnostics consists of laboratory and instrumental methods:
- blood and urine tests (biochemistry and general);
- urography;
- MRI;
- multislice tomography;
- abdominal x-ray;
- CT;
- retrograde ureteropyelography.
If the patient has a confirmed diagnosis of hydrocalycosis of the kidneys, treatment should be aimed not only at combating the consequences, but also at eliminating its root cause. Therapy may involve taking medications or using surgical methods. Drug therapy is a complex administration of medications. In particular, the following drugs are prescribed:
antispasmodics - Papaverine, Riabal, No-shpa, Spazmolgon;- painkillers - Dexalgin, Movalis and Ibuprofen;
- diuretics;
- herbal uroseptics - Urolesan, Canephron N and Chofitol;
- antibacterial drugs to prevent infections - Nitroxoline and Palin.
An important stage of therapy is eliminating the consequences of the disease. To do this you should:
- Follow therapeutic renal diet No. 7 (Pevzner diet).
- Improve nutrition and blood supply to kidney tissue with the help of medications (Trental or Pentoxifylline).
- Treat and prevent infectious diseases (pyelonephritis, cystitis, inflammation of the ureters).
- If signs of renal failure appear, hemodialysis is performed.
Surgical methods are used in extreme cases, if drug therapy has not been effective. Methods for restoring urodynamics:
- Nephrotomy involves dissecting the renal parenchyma and then draining its cavity.
- Nephrostomy. A hole is made in the lower back into which a catheter is inserted to drain urine from the kidney.
- Nephrectomy involves removing the kidney. This method can be used if the second organ is healthy.
- Kidney resection involves removing part of an organ. This procedure is performed for hydrocalycosis of both kidneys.
There are also modern minimally invasive surgical methods. One of which is laparoscopy. The essence of the procedure is as follows: small punctures are made in the abdominal cavity. Then the doctor, using special instruments, removes the blockage that is preventing the normal flow of urine. This procedure is used for both unilateral and bilateral hydrocalycosis.
It should be understood that all surgical interventions injure the kidneys and require a long rehabilitation period for the patient.
Symptoms of hydrocalycosis of the left and right kidney
There is no significant difference in symptoms with hydrocalycosis of the right or left kidney. In their practice, doctors to a small extent encounter inflammatory changes in the kidney tissue on the right. This condition is directly related to the predominance of muscle tone on the right side of the body.
Hydrocalycosis of the left kidney is more common with a decrease in the size of the kidney tissue. It is this course of the disease that is associated with the proliferation of connective tissue at the site of inflammation. The more often a patient experiences inflammatory processes, the greater the likelihood of nonfunctional tissue growing. In most cases, sclerosis affects the left side, but it can also affect the right.
Bilateral
Slight enlargement of the calyces of both kidneys may occur without visible symptoms. If the disease does not begin to progress, then the patient can live like this for years and not think about his illness.
Bilateral hydrocalycosis can be complicated by severe pathologies:
- Intrarenal blood supply increases sharply;
- There is increased pressure on the urethra;
- Venous outflow increases;
- Infiltration of kidney tissue by immune cells;
- Infection with bacteria and harmful microorganisms.
Of particular importance when the calyces of both kidneys are enlarged is obstruction of the urinary tract. Against this background, the patient develops persistent hypertension.
Features of hydrocalycosis in childhood
This kidney disease in children can be asymptomatic.
The structure of the urinary system in children has some anatomical features. Thus, the kidneys in childhood are small. At the same time, the elastic and muscle tissue of the organ still remains underdeveloped. In this regard, hydrocalycosis of the left kidney and right organ in children very often occurs in a latent form. That is why the symptoms of this disease in childhood may have unusual signs that are very difficult to recognize and differentiate.
This kidney disease in children can be asymptomatic or, conversely, characterized by a rapid onset and vivid manifestation with fever, severe pain, and general intoxication. Only a pediatric urologist can make an accurate diagnosis. At the same time, the methods for examining a child are the same as for diagnosing the disease in adults.
Principles of diet for hydrocalycosis of the kidneys
Therapeutic nutrition for hydrocalycosis of the kidneys is based on a reduced content of proteins and fats in the diet. It is useful to add berries and fruit drinks made from them. Also fermented milk products. There is no special diet for newborns, only specialist supervision. Basically, hydrocalycosis in young children goes away on its own.
There are several rules that can help you avoid relapse:
- Do not overheat or overcool;
- Maintain personal hygiene;
- Try not to get an infection;
- Add light soups, fruit drinks, clean water to the diet;
- Drink at least 2 liters of water per day;
- Lead a healthy lifestyle.
Bottom line
Hydrocalycosis is not an independent pathology, but develops together with other diseases of the genitourinary system. This pathology is characterized by expansion of the pelvis and calyces in the kidneys, which leads to stagnation of urine. In most cases, the disease occurs without visible symptoms and is diagnosed during a kidney examination.
The symptoms of hydrocalycosis are identical to those of other diseases of the renal system. Only timely examination and treatment can eliminate the causes of the disease and facilitate the recovery process.
Traditional medicine is widely used in conjunction with drug treatment. In combination with treatment, you can get a good result and get rid of the disease. Sometimes the drugs do not help and the patient is offered surgical intervention to eliminate defects in the abnormal structure of the urinary system, which interferes with the normal outflow of urine and causes an inflammatory process.
is also required to be prescribed a therapeutic diet . It is based on the exclusion of proteins and fats from the diet. During illness, it is better to eat light soups and cereals. Add a lot of berries, fruits and dairy products to your food. Try to avoid hypothermia and overheating. Pathogenic microorganisms love to grow in this environment.
By following all the recommendations of specialists and rules of prevention, you can eliminate the causes of the disease and return to normal life.
Who to contact and how to diagnose
You need to contact a urologist or nephrologist. Diagnosis of hydrocalycosis involves taking laboratory tests and then undergoing several examinations. There are 3 types of tests in total:
- Analysis of urine;
- general blood analysis;
- blood chemistry.
The number and types of examinations prescribed depend on the individual characteristics of the person, symptoms and characteristics of the course of the disease.
In most cases, 2-3 studies are used to make a diagnosis. To confirm hydrocalycosis, the following may be prescribed:
- Ultrasound of the kidneys;
- radiography of the abdominal organs;
- renal urography;
- excretory urography;
- CT scan;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- multislice tomography;
If the diagnosis is erroneous or inaccurate, there is a very high risk of developing hydronephrosis, a disease in which the fluid content in the kidneys increases and the normal process of urine outflow is disrupted. The worst development option is complete atrophy of the kidney, i.e. failure of operation.
