Kidney shrinkage: causes, symptoms and diagnosis

Urinary system and hydronephrosis

The kidneys are an integral part of the urinary system, whose job is to remove metabolic waste from the body. The urinary tract consists of four parts:

• kidney;
• Bladder;
• ureters;
• urethra.

The job of the kidneys is to filter the blood and make urine, removing excess substances and liquids from it. Urine collects in a part of the kidney called the renal pelvis. From there it flows through a narrow tube, the ureter, into the bladder. When it is filled to a certain extent, a person receives a signal from the brain to empty itself. During urination, urine leaves the body through the urethra. If anything in this system fails, problems begin in the body.

One of the reasons for organ enlargement (kidney hyperplasia) is hydronephrosis. With this disease, the kidneys become swollen due to stagnation of urine in them, which cannot leave the organ and pass through the ureter to the bladder due to blockage by stones, tumors, etc. Hydronephrosis also occurs when an obstruction appears in the path of urine flow in the urethra, causing urine to flow back into the kidneys (reflux), which leads to dilation of the pelvis.

At the same time, the volume of the kidney can increase. Severe hydronephrosis of the left kidney, right kidney, or both can lead to kidney failure. However, even if the kidney is greatly enlarged, this is a consequence rather than a cause of the disease.

Hydronephrosis may or may not be noticeable, depending on the cause and severity of the urinary tract blockage. The main symptom is pain in the side or back, as well as in the abdomen and groin area. Other signs of hydronephrosis are:

• pain when emptying the bladder;
• frequent urination;
• urinary incontinence;
• incomplete emptying of the bladder;
• nausea;
• heat.

Hydronephrosis is usually a secondary disease, meaning it is caused by another disease. Many factors can provoke hydronephrosis, including stones, congenital anomalies of the urinary tract (a defect that appears at the birth of a child), blood clots and blood clots. Scarring of the kidney tissue due to injury or surgery may also be the cause.

Benign or cancerous tumors (not only in the kidneys, but also in the bladder, cervix, rectum and prostate) are another cause of blocked urine flow. You should also highlight reasons such as prostate enlargement (non-carcinogenic), pregnancy, urinary tract infections or other diseases that cause inflammatory processes in the urinary system.

Causes leading to hydronephrosis

Numerous genetic factors can influence the formation of cysts, causing polycystic disease in a child or adult patient. Sometimes the first symptoms of the disease appear in adulthood.

The urinary organ increases in size with the subsequent development of pain and the formation of complications.

Enlargement of both kidneys appears in acute pyelonephritis, nephrotic course of the inflammatory process, glamerulonephritis, amyloidosis.

Diffuse enlargement occurs with a malignant tumor or the presence of multiple metastases. A unilateral change in size occurs in cases where a healthy organ compensates for the work of the diseased area.

In adults, there may be a slight increase in the organ with the formation of two or three ureters.

The hilum of the enlarged kidney contains several vascular pedicles. The pelvis changes size as a result of increased fluid intake, increased urine output and bladder overflow. Its pathology is determined during pregnancy, and the initial signs of hypertrophy are formed when the thickness of the pelvis changes by more than 1 cm. The growth of the parenchyma significantly affects the change in the size of the urinary organ.

Diagnosis and treatment of hydronephrosis

Ultrasound scanning is the most common test to confirm the diagnosis of hydronephrosis. A doctor can also confirm the diagnosis using X-rays, CT scans, and magnetic resonance scans. The diagnostic process often involves a cytoscopy, which uses a long, flexible tube with a light source and a camera on the end to look into the middle of the bladder and urethra.

Urine and blood tests help evaluate kidney function. The doctor can check for the presence of blood in the urine, which may appear due to stones, infection, or other factors.

Treatment for hydronephrosis depends on the cause that caused it. Infectious diseases are treated with antibiotics. Small kidney stones can pass on their own, while large ones can be removed surgically. In cases of severe blockage causing hydronephrosis, excess urine can be removed artificially by inserting a catheter into the bladder, which drains urine.

An alternative surgical method is nephrostomy, which allows urine to be drained directly from the kidneys. The key to successful treatment of hydronephrosis is timely treatment, begun before irreversible damage is caused to the organ. In severe cases, hydronephrosis can lead to kidney damage and kidney failure. In this case, the only methods of maintaining the patient’s life are dialysis and transplantation.

Manifestations of hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis is a serious chronic disease that can lead to oncology of the diseased organ. Women are more susceptible to this disease; this disease is much less common in men. In 95% of cases, the pathology affects one kidney.

The cause of the primary type of disease is congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. The secondary type occurs as a result of acquired pathologies. The cause of the development of secondary hydronephrosis may be:

various diseases of the genitourinary system; urolithiasis disease; narrowing of the urethra caused by injury; oncological diseases of the genitourinary system; malignant tumors of the pelvic organs, abdominal cavity, spinal cord.

If a disease is suspected, ultrasound is used to diagnose the degree of change in the parameters of the diseased organ in order to determine the stage of hydronephrosis.

Stages of the disease:

1The first phase of the disease is characterized by a slight increase in the pelvic cup and occurs without severe symptoms. There may be minor discomfort and decreased vitality. 2In the second stage, the kidney ceases to function normally due to a significant enlargement of the pelvis. The walls of the cup become thinner, and the organ itself also increases. There are ongoing pain in the lumbar region, nausea, and attacks of hypertension. 3The kidney doubles in size and there is a marked impairment of its functions. The urine that can be excreted becomes cloudy and mixed with blood. The disease at the last stage is difficult, life support for the patient is possible only in a hospital setting. If there is complete loss of function, the diseased organ is removed.

With timely diagnosis at an early stage, the disease is treatable. In 85-90% of cases, the functionality of the excretory organ is completely restored, and its normal size returns. Rehabilitation of the patient takes from several weeks to six months.

Conservative methods in the treatment of hydronephrosis are ineffective. Complex therapy is aimed at the concomitant disease, being a preparatory stage for the main treatment. Only surgical intervention using modern technologies, carried out in a specialized center, will help restore the functioning of the organ and reduce its size. The purpose of the operation is to reconstruct the urinary system while preserving the organ.

Polycystic kidney disease

Another disease that can lead to enlarged kidneys is polycystic disease, in which multiple fluid-filled cysts appear in the organ. If there are several of them (one or two), it’s usually not a big deal. But if there are a lot of them or they become too large, destructive changes begin in the kidneys: the cysts slowly replace healthy kidney tissue, greatly reducing their functions and leading to kidney failure.

Polycystic disease is the fourth leading cause of kidney failure (5% of cases). In many patients, polycystic disease does not appear until the age of thirty or forty. The first symptoms of this disease are:

• High blood pressure is the most common symptom of polycystic disease, which can be accompanied by headaches. High blood pressure causes the destruction of kidney tissue, so timely treatment of hypertension can prevent or slow down the onset of kidney failure.
• Pain in the side or back.
• Abdominal enlargement.
• Blood in urine.
• Frequent kidney or bladder infections.
• Fluttering or gurgling sensations in the chest. Twenty-five percent of people with polycystic disease suffer from relaxation of the heart valves, which is accompanied by chest pain.

It is possible to accurately diagnose polycystic disease using ultrasound. Sometimes CT scans and magnetic resonance scans can identify small cysts that ultrasound cannot detect. MRI can measure the volume and size of kidneys and cysts. In some cases, genetic testing is performed using a blood test.

The main cause of polycystic disease is heredity, namely abnormal genes. Polycystic kidney disease is transmitted by both dominant and recessive types. With autosomal dominant polycystic disease, a child only needs to receive the defective gene from one parent to develop polycystic kidney disease. Symptoms usually appear after the age of forty, but the disease can also develop in childhood.

Symptoms indicating kidney problems

The total amount of urine excreted during the daytime is 80%. If there are deviations in the process of urination in adults, the presence of a disease can be assumed.

An enlarged organ due to a cancerous tumor, urolithiasis, causes pain in the lumbar region, radiating to the outer part of the thigh. With the development of an acute process, urine appears in the pelvis, reminiscent of meat slop due to the presence of a small amount of blood in it.

An enlarged kidney does not perform its function well. Swelling and bags under the lower eyelid appear on the patient’s face, indicating the progression of the pathology. With polycystic disease, the pelvis is filled with a large number of cavities with liquid contents. The diseased organ cannot cope with its work.

Renal failure develops, manifested by nausea, vomiting, and poor appetite. The patient experiences lethargy, drowsiness, and thirst. Bleeding gums appear, and ulcerations form on the oral mucosa. Fever is often associated with impaired urination, and leukocytes, protein and bacterial flora are found in the urine.

Infectious diseases

Enlarged kidneys, or a condition where one kidney is larger than the other, can cause urinary tract infections. This is a fairly common disease, especially in children and women. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when microorganisms enter the urinary system and begin to multiply, causing pain. If a UTI is left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and cause a serious illness, pyelonephritis.

UTIs are more common in women because they have a shorter urethra than men, making it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder. Patients with a blocked urinary tract or a catheter in the bladder may also develop a UTI.

A urinary tract infection can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• Frequent urge to empty the bladder, and urine output may be no more than a few drops.
• Burning during urination.
• Soreness, pressure, or pain in the lower abdomen.
• Cloudy or blood-stained urine.
• Strong smell of urine.

If the infection spreads to the kidneys and pyelonephritis occurs, the patient may have lower back pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. The appearance of these symptoms is a reason to seek medical help.

To make a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a urine test to look for the presence of bacteria and blood cells. UTIs are treated with antibiotics, which effectively prevent bacteria from growing and multiplying.

The course of antibiotics usually does not exceed one to two weeks. Antibiotics should be taken even if the symptoms have passed to ensure that the infection is completely gone from the body. During antibiotic treatment, you should drink plenty of water.

Sometimes the infection does not go away completely. This leads to chronic UTI. To make sure the disease is absent or present, a type of X-ray called an intravenous pyelogram is ordered, which involves injecting contrast dye into a vein and scanning the kidneys and bladder. Ultrasound data of the kidneys and bladder, as well as cytoscopy, will also be needed.

Sometimes women experience UTI symptoms repeatedly, three to four times a year. In this case, the doctor prescribes low doses of antibiotics every day for six months or longer. You can also recommend taking antibiotics one or two days once symptoms appear. The dosage must be prescribed by a doctor.

UTIs are more serious during pregnancy because it is much easier for infections to enter the kidneys during this time. Pregnant women should pay special attention to treating UTIs as they can lead to high blood pressure and preterm labor.

What does it mean if an ultrasound shows an enlarged kidney? What can this lead to or can you live with this for up to 100 years?

Well, first of all, you did not indicate the sizes that you wrote on the ultrasound, and without this it is impossible to judge whether they are normal. It is not at all necessary that there is any increase at all; very often ultrasound specialists write a deviation from normal indicators. And in itself, an increase in the size of the kidney does not mean anything bad; an increase in the thickness of the parenchyma, due to edema, yes, will indicate inflammation, acute or chronic pyelonephritis. An increase in the size of the kidney can be considered as normal if no other abnormalities are described. Also, an enlargement of the kidney is always present in cases where one of the kidneys significantly reduces its function (staghorn kidney stones, secondary wrinkled kidney, chronic pyelonephritis, multicystic kidney disease) or is absent, the second compensatory takes over the entire function, and as a result increases.

Other symptoms

If at the main stage of the disease the increased size does not cause concern, the advanced form of the pathology is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms. It is at this stage that disorders of the genitourinary system are most often diagnosed.

Symptoms of enlargement:

1Painful sensations in the lumbar region. Aching nature of the pain. 2 Urine with bloody impurities. Urination is frequent and painful. 3Elevated body temperature, characteristic of kidney infiltration. 4The pain radiates into the abdominal cavity, causing nausea and bloating. 5Difficulty urinating leads to swelling.

Acute symptoms require immediate diagnosis and treatment.

What are the sizes of the kidneys in an adult healthy person?

Even a person who considers himself absolutely healthy should have his kidneys examined from time to time - for example, do an ultrasound. During this examination, it may become clear that the size of the kidney is increased. What are the reasons for this phenomenon?

Normally, in a mature person, the length of the kidneys is from 10 to 12 centimeters, the width is from 5 to 6 centimeters and the thickness is from 4 to 5 centimeters. Of course, every human body is individual, so minor deviations up or down are possible. This is a natural phenomenon. However, if deviations exceed the specified values ​​by more than 20%, this in the vast majority of cases indicates a disease.

In the event that an ultrasound shows a significant increase in the overall size of the kidney or any of its internal structures, it is necessary to undergo additional examinations and tests. After diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe treatment.

What to do if the kidneys are enlarged?

It is necessary to undergo comprehensive treatment from a nephrologist. By palpation - manual examination - the specialist will determine the degree of mobility of the kidney and its sensitivity. You will also need to take a urine test and undergo an ultrasound examination.

When examining urine, first of all, pay attention to the number of leukocytes, the presence of blood and protein in it.

With an ultrasound, the doctor will be able to see not only the size, but also the structure of the kidney.

Antibiotics are successfully used to treat inflammatory processes. Analgesics are also prescribed to relieve pain. If conservative treatment does not bring results, surgical intervention is resorted to.

If the disease is actively progressing and the patient is at risk of kidney failure, hemodialysis may be prescribed - a blood purification procedure.

To prevent the development of pathology, you need to be attentive to your health and not ignore symptoms such as pain in the kidneys or difficulty urinating. If they appear, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

• Basic parameters of the adult kidney
• Factors contributing to kidney enlargement
• Causes leading to hydronephrosis
• Symptoms indicating kidney problems
• Hypernephrosis in tumors and spinal cord injury
• The influence of the inflammatory process on the size of the kidneys
• Methods for diagnosing an organ altered by disease

Many chronic diseases of the urinary tract lead to the emergence of a formidable pathology - an enlargement of an organ important for human health. Pathological processes disrupt the normal structure of the organ, which ultimately leads to a problem such as kidney enlargement. The causes of its appearance are often associated with certain acute chronic diseases.

Normal kidneys continuously cleanse the blood of toxic substances. Their parameters are an indicator of health or indicate the presence of a disease in the body.

What diseases lead to kidney enlargement

A common cause of kidney enlargement is pyelonephritis. This disease is manifested by the following symptoms: frequent urination, pain in the lumbar region (their nature and strength can vary widely), a feeling of weakness and weakness. During periods of exacerbation of pyelonephritis, the temperature rises, chills and fever occur, and vomiting may begin.

Another common cause of kidney enlargement is hydronephrosis. With this disease, more urine is produced in the affected kidney than can be drained through the ureter. Therefore, urine gradually accumulates in the pyelocaliceal system, which leads first to its enlargement, and then to an enlargement of the entire organ.

Hypernephrosis in tumors and spinal cord injury

The most common tumor disease is polycystic degeneration, which causes kidney enlargement. The reasons that cause the appearance of a tumor are varied:

• hydronephrosis;
• inflammatory processes;
• poorly treated glomerulonephritis;
• congenital pathology of the organ.

The kidney enlarges on both sides, and the consistency of its tissue changes. It becomes too dense, with a swollen surface. Urine acquires low density and contains an increased amount of urea and nitrogenous compounds.

Bilateral hydronephrosis is manifested by an enlargement of the organ, but its surface is smooth, with slight accumulation of free fluid in the cavity. In the acute course of the malignant process, the kidney enlarges on one side. The shape of its lower end changes: it becomes more rounded, lumpy and dense.

There is the appearance of blood in the urine and pain when palpated. With hepernephroid cancer, the kidney is enlarged in size, the urine has blood clots, and in men there is dilation of the veins of the spermatic cord. The renal pelvis in the enlarged organ is located away from the opposite pole. With polycystic disease, the calyces in both kidneys are greatly elongated in length and have increased branching.

Basic parameters of a healthy kidney

The kidneys, like any internal organs, undergo changes as the human body grows.
In a one-year-old child, this organ reaches a length of 6 cm, in adolescents it increases to 10 cm. Normal kidneys in women are 8-10 cm long and 4-5 cm wide. Men's kidneys are usually a couple of centimeters longer and one wider. These are average values; individual characteristics of the body allow an increase of 15-20%. The right kidney is not an exact copy of the left; a difference of 5% is considered normal.

From the age of fifty, irreversible atrophic changes begin in this organ. With age, the kidney becomes smaller, both kidneys may descend, and the elasticity of the blood vessels decreases. Age-related changes in kidney size also affect the size of the fat capsule.

In a very young child it is almost absent, gradually increases towards the age of 50, then begins to decrease, sometimes disappearing completely. There are certain reasons for a sharp enlargement of the kidney.

An enlarged kidney does not always manifest itself clinically; changes in its size can only be revealed by ultrasound.

Sometimes, if the increase is impressive, an experienced doctor will determine this by palpation. But often symptoms are still present, especially if the pathology is serious or the disease is advanced. Many patients with an enlarged kidney know well what renal colic is.

Repeated acute pain in the lower back means that the kidney may become enlarged and this organ may become diseased.

What is the essence of the problem?

The kidney is a paired organ of the urinary system that takes an active part in the process of formation and excretion of urine. It consists of several structural elements, each of which performs specific functions. Throughout life, its longitudinal size is not the same and is:

• 49 mm – from birth to 60 days;
• 60 mm – from 2 months to one year;
• 73 mm – 1-5 years;
• 85 mm – 5-9 years;
• 98 mm – 9-15 years;
• 106 mm – 15-18 years;
• 110 mm – in adults.

Interestingly, until approximately 25 years of age, the kidneys maintain an intensive growth rate, then their sizes remain stable for a long time, and after 50 years they begin to decrease. There are also minor differences between the sexes: men have a slightly larger urinary organ than women. Pathological enlargement of the kidneys leads to an increase in their longitudinal and transverse size.

Causes of kidney enlargement

The following reasons for kidney enlargement can be considered the main ones:

• hydronephrotic transformation;
• inflammatory disease;
• urolithiasis;
• neoplasms;
• hypoplasia.

Hydronephrosis results from an enlarged renal chamber.
She is under pressure from urine, which cannot leave the kidneys through the ureter into the bladder. It is caused by abnormal changes in the urinary system, kidney stones, injuries, and kidney tumors.

It is even possible for urine to flow back into the kidney (reflux), caused by an obstruction in the urinary tract. This causes an enlargement of the renal pelvis. Hydronephrosis can be mild (pyelectasia), moderate or severe. In the third form, changes in the left kidney, right kidney, or both can lead to kidney failure.

In infants, hydronephrotic transformations are usually caused by congenital anomalies in the structure of the urinary tract and disturbances in the development of their valves.

In older children, enlargement of the kidney due to urinary retention can be caused by a narrowing of the lumen of the ureter and urethra. In adult patients, the cause of kidney enlargement is bacterial infection, kidney stone pathologies, injuries to the urinary organs, and neoplasms of various types.

Urinary retention in humans can be caused by inflammatory reactions of the genital organs located near the kidneys. A typical female factor for stagnation of urine, which provokes enlargement of the kidneys, is the use of hormonal medications.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the kidneys - pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis - can lead to changes in the size of this organ.

Infection leads to swelling of the kidney tissue, causing it to increase in size. The infection can enter the organ from the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections are more common in women. This is because the urethra is shorter, making it easier for infection to reach the bladder.

It also occurs in young children. The formation of kidney stones is promoted by low-quality water, poor diet, lack of mobility in humans, living in a hot climate, and hereditary predisposition. Sometimes the causes of urolithiasis are inflammatory processes in the kidneys or abnormalities in the structure of the genitourinary organs.

One kidney may become larger than the other due to benign or malignant tumors. Cysts, polyps, hemangiomas lead to changes in the size of the kidneys. As tumors grow, they interfere with normal urination, and the organ increases in size.

If there are no more than two cysts in the kidney, this is not so dangerous. But multiple cysts filled with fluid, or polycystic kidney disease, are the fourth most common cause of kidney failure. Polycystic disease is often hereditary.

With hypoplasia, one kidney remains smaller than the other due to its developmental delay or congenital pathology that develops in the child’s kidney during prenatal development

At the same time, the structure and functions of the organ cells are absolutely normal, but their number is approximately 2 times less than normal.

Hypoplasia in most cases is unilateral and is more a male pathology than a female one (about two cases to one).

Effect of glomerulonephritis

Renal volume can increase significantly with the appearance of immunoinflammatory pathology - glomerulonephritis. This disease is associated with damage to the renal glomeruli (glomeruli). In terms of changes in organ size, the chronic diffuse type of the disease is of particular interest.

As the pathology progresses, the dying glomeruli are replaced by connective tissue. In the advanced stage, the tubules are also affected, and their resulting necrosis occurs with the growth of scar tissue, which ultimately leads to the replacement of the renal tissue with connective tissue, while the affected organ increases significantly in size.

The following variants of manifestation of chronic diffuse glomerulonephritis are distinguished:

Which is better: MRI or CT scan of the kidneys?

• the hypertensive form is characterized by severe hypertension;
• nephrotic form: a significant amount of protein is released along with the urine, a blood test reveals hypoalbuminemia, obvious swelling of the extremities, hydrothorax, ascites;
• the mixed form combines both types and has a progressive course;
• hematuric form, or Berger's disease: relapses of hematuria, edema.

Diagnostics

Only a specialist in diseases of these organs - a nephrologist - can accurately determine the causes of kidney enlargement. Palpation allows you to determine the size of the kidneys and their location. The most common diagnostic method is ultrasound.

Ultrasound can confirm hydronephrosis and polycystic disease as a pathology that has led to an enlargement of the diseased organ. To clarify the diagnosis, radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cystoscopy may also be prescribed.

Blood and urine tests are informative. The content of leukocytes, red blood cells, and protein is determined in the blood. The content of creatinine, urea, and nitrogenous compounds is determined in the urine - deviation of their levels from the norm indicates kidney disease. A bacteriological examination of urine is also carried out to identify the causative agent of infection.

Methods for diagnosing an organ altered by disease

To make a correct diagnosis, a laboratory instrumental study is performed. When examined, the enlarged kidney protrudes in the lumbar region, the skin turns red and swells. Palpation determines the degree of enlargement of the organ and its individual sections. They study the consistency, mobility, and surface of the kidney. Its sensitivity is small, it has a soft structure, slightly elastic, and in case of cancerous tumors it is lumpy and hard to the touch.

The presence of a hypertrophied organ indicates a serious illness. The doctor can make the correct diagnosis and conduct a course of therapy, preventing the occurrence of complications.

Treatment

If the kidney is enlarged and the cause of this disorder is identified, the urologist will prescribe the necessary treatment. Therapy is usually based on three areas:

• Diet assignment.
• Drug treatment.
• Surgical intervention.

Restrictions in the diet will reduce the load on the affected organs and will help improve their functioning.
In particular, for the treatment of urolithiasis, it is important to change the acidity of urine to promote the dissolution of kidney stones. General recommendations require avoiding fried, salted, smoked, fatty, and canned foods. The diet should not contain alcohol, soda with sugar, and limit the consumption of cocoa and coffee.

It is recommended to replenish the menu with vegetables, fruits, cereals, and low-fat fermented milk products. Meat consumption should also be limited, since the breakdown of proteins produces nitrogen compounds that impede the functioning of the kidneys.

Treatment for kidney enlargement begins with medication, using antispasmodics and painkillers to relieve pain and alleviate the general condition, as well as speed up the removal of stones if necessary.

Antibacterial agents are prescribed for the inflammatory process. The results of a bacteriological urine test will help you make the right choice of drug. Treatment is usually carried out with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

They are taken for 7-14 days, even if the symptoms of inflammation no longer bother you. The infection must be completely destroyed. When taking antibiotics, you need to drink more water.

Herbal diuretics will help normalize urine excretion and the release of stones. But in the presence of kidney pathology, they should be used only after consultation with a doctor. There are diseases in which taking diuretics is contraindicated.

In severe cases of urinary tract blockage, excess urine is removed using a catheter inserted into the bladder, through which urine flows out.

Symptomatic treatment is also carried out. If increased intrarenal pressure has led to hypertension, ACE inhibitors are prescribed to normalize blood pressure.

The help of a surgeon is necessary if a change in the size of the kidney is caused by abnormalities in the structure of the organs of the urinary system. Indications for surgery are also large tumors and lack of results with drug treatment of the pathology. The purpose of the surgery is to remove obstructions in the urinary tract.

Endoscopic surgery makes it possible to remove several problems at once. If the ureter is narrowed or stones are severely passed during surgery, the problem is solved by installing stents or catheters.

If the enlargement of the kidney is caused by a narrowing of the lumen of the ureter, it is excised during surgery.

Contact, remote and laser crushing of stones is widely used for the treatment of kidney stones. An alternative surgical method is nephrostomy. With its help, urine is drained directly from the kidney.

At the current level of development of medicine, surgeons are trying to use reconstructive and organ-preserving treatment methods.

The key to success in the treatment of kidney pathologies is treatment started in a timely manner, before irreversible disturbances in the functioning of the organ begin. Otherwise, kidney damage and kidney failure may develop. In this case, the patient’s life can only be saved by dialysis and transplantation.

It is important for the patient to know what he can do on his own if the kidney is enlarged. Preventive measures help strengthen the organ that has lost its normal functionality. In addition to a diet that includes maximum salt restriction, an active lifestyle and maintaining a normal weight are important.

Walking at a good pace or playing sports will help improve blood circulation, which will also affect the functioning of the urinary system. Both hypothermia and severe overheating are harmful to the kidneys. When overheated, the blood thickens, which increases the load on this organ. Hypothermia can lead to an inflammatory process.

Etiological factors

The cause of kidney enlargement is serious diseases of the genitourinary system. The exception is congenital pathology, when a person has only one kidney, which does double duty.

A common cause of acute symptoms of an enlarged kidney is pyelonephritis. The inflammatory process, which is infectious in nature, is characterized by aching pain, painful urination, fever, and nausea. Pyelonephritis occurs due to infection of the urinary tract by various bacteria. Untreated inflammation takes on a chronic form with periodic exacerbations.

A disease such as hydronephrosis is another, more serious cause of changes in the normal size of the kidneys. This is a progressive pathology in which urine accumulates in the renal pelvis. Over time, an abnormal amount of urine leads to a change in the size of the cup, and then to an enlargement of the kidney itself.

Hydronephrosis is a severe form of complications caused by a number of serious congenital or acquired pathologies. This disease is fraught with irreversible processes in the kidney tissues.