Urinary stone is common and recurrent disease and is as old as Human Civilization.

Generally, Twelve Percent of the population will have Urinary Stone during their life time and in UAE may be more due to the environmental and dietary factors.

The oldest known urinary stone was found in Egyptian mummy dated 4800 BC. Most of the stones pass spontaneously when they are small in size less than 5 mm.

As the stone size increases chances of Spontaneous passage decreases.

Urinary stones cause interruption of urinary flow and progressive pressure on kidneys. It may lead to recurrent attacks of severe Kidney Pain and Urinary Tract Infection. If stones left untreated impairment of Kidney function may occur and even loss of kidney may happen.

There are many types of stones found in patients:

• Oxalato Stone
• Uric acid Stones
• Struvite Stone ( Infective Stones)
• Phosphate Stones
• Cystine Stones

Most Common stones are Calcium Oxalate stones. With the advancement of modern technology, a variety of treatment options are available for Urinary stones Such as Extracorporeal Shock wave Therapy (ESWL), Laser lithotripsy , Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

In this era, open stone surgery for Ureteric & Renal stones is now a Historical events , Selection of treatment option depends upon the stone size and location doctors experience and what all are the facilities available for treatment.

In Thumbay Hospital ,Ajman We have all endoscopic ( Non-Invasible & Minimally Invasive) treatment options available and it require one day hospitalization for treatment of ureteric & renal Stones.

One thing , which is very important for Stone patients to keep in mind that once stone treated , there are fair chances of recurrence  which are almost 50% to 70% , If  prophylactic measures are not taken after the stone treatment.

Analysis of Stone and metabolic evaluation for stone disease should be performed to reduce the recurrence rate.

As a precautionary measure one should increase the intake of water during the summer season especially and try to reduce the intake of Red Meat and salt in Diet.

Credit: DR.IHSANULLAH KHAN