“Provided lithiasis we call the presence of one or more stones in any part of the urinary tract, as they can be in different places, such as in the kidneys, ureters, in the bladder itself or even in the urethra. Stones that are smaller than 5 millimeters are usually passed automatically, with urination. If they are not expelled or if they are larger, they remain in the ureter and then cause pain, the so-called renal colic.

Stones vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters, as some grow in size within the kidney. While there are also the so-called “coral stones” that occupy the entire drainage system of the kidney, the pelvis and the calyces, forming a cast.

It is worth noting that lithiasis is more often found in men and between the ages of 20 and 60, while approximately 25% of patients report a history of lithiasis in their close family environment” states the Mrs. Matina Vlachou Director Urologist at Metropolitan Hospital.

“Kidney or ureteral stones are a common condition, as around one in ten people will develop a stone at least once in their life. In Southern Europe and warmer countries it occurs even more often, with men having stones more often in a ratio of 3 to 1. This ratio tends to change due to changes in daily life and diet,” he adds.

What causes contribute to the appearance of lithiasis?

Lithiasis can be created either by accident or by some sometimes unexpected cause. A period of dehydration, a prolonged bed rest or some bowel diseases are some common conditions that can however cause lithiasis.

Other causes may be:

• Dehydration
• Eating Habits
• Abnormalities of the urinary tract that create obstruction to the flow of urine, such as ureteral stricture, spongiform or horseshoe kidney, ureterocele and nephrocalcinosis
• Obstructive diseases of the urinary tract, such as prostatic hyperplasia
• Increases in substances in the blood and urine, such as calcium, uric acid and cystine
• Diseases of the thyroid and especially the parathyroid glands
• Taking calcium supplements
• Family history of lithiasis
• Urinary tract infection
• Gastrointestinal conditions such as jejunoileal bypass, intestinal resection, Crohn’s disease, malabsorption diseases, urinary diversion
• Sarcoidosis

What are the symptoms of lithiasis?

“When a stone is high in the kidney, it usually has relatively mild symptoms, such as a feeling of pain in the area under the ribs, in the back. However, when the stone moves into the ureter, it causes renal colic with severe pain in the kidney area, on the side of the abdomen or even in the genitals, which is accompanied by sweating, nausea or even vomiting, blood in the urine, difficulty or pain in urinating , even a fever that makes the situation urgent. When the stone is gone and the patient urinates, then the symptoms stop.

However, there are times when the pain stops, while the stone remains in the ureter and blocks the kidney. For this reason, it is always recommended that after an episode of colic, the patient undergoes a urological examination to confirm the complete expulsion of the stone”, emphasizes Mrs. Vlachou.

How do we treat lithiasis?

“At the Metropolitan Hospital, we recommend a thorough investigation of the disease, in order to discover both the type and the location of the lithiasis. In today’s era and with the new imaging capabilities, we can locate the lithic load quickly and easily.

Many patients urinate the stone, especially if they are small stones up to 3mm that do not cause a particular obstruction and are not accompanied by an infection. In other cases of larger and wedged stones that cause significant obstruction and especially when accompanied by infection, invasive removal of the obstruction is imperative to avoid permanent damage to the kidney, as well as the morbidity of the condition that can threaten the patient’s life. In this case, using a series of thin, flexible, non-traumatic endoscopes, we approach the stone wherever it is located and then, with special high-power lasers that magnetize the stone, we can pulverize it and absorb it.

At this point it is worth emphasizing that despite the fact that lithiasis sounds like a common condition, the location, size and hardness of the stone may require particularly complex and individualized manipulations.

We are often asked to use combinations of methods, apart from digital endoscopes and high-power lasers with which we can remove stones under vision non-traumatically, the most modern Da Vinci Si robotic system can also be used in combination, performing minimally invasive and bloodless difficult operations. concludes Ms. Vlachou.

*The Metropolitan Hospital has a model, fully equipped and organized Urology Clinic, with experienced and highly qualified scientific and nursing staff, as well as advanced technology equipment. In our clinic, the entire spectrum of urinary lithiasis is successfully treated, but mainly the cause of the lithiasis is approached in order to significantly reduce the risk of its recurrence.