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Suggest Treatment For Kidney Stone
Question: Hi, I have a large staghorn calculi in my left kidney. I have had a 1.6 kidney stone removed from right kidney last month, but the left one will require open surgery I'm told. My question is, if something happened and I lost the left kidney how would that affect my health? Do the kidneys function equally?
Brief Answer:
Please see as follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern.
Staghorn calculi are difficult to treat as they usually expand through different sections of the kidney, blocking the urine formation and passage. This kind of calculi are usually a consequence of repeated urinary tract infections. Due to their size and shape, they often need open surgery in order to be removed, as de-bulking, with this kind of stone is not enough, or needs to be completely cleaned and removed, due to its high recurrence.
Unfortunately, infection and kidney loss are the main consequences of this surgery, however not very frequent. In the unlikely event that you do lose the kidney, the body has to rely completely on the other one, which will work 40% more than when working in a pair.
The main possible consequence of living with a kidney is high blood pressure. Your doctor will regularly measure your GFR, which is a measure of how well kidney filters, and also check for protein in your urine. If the protein in urine is high, this may lead to increased water and sodium retention and swelling, and your doctor will guide you through the amount of protein intake in your diet.
Since you have a tendency to kidney stones, you will have to be on antibiotics every now and then to prevent recurring infections, which leads to stone formation.
There are many people who live normal, quality lives with a single kidney, so as long as you take care of yourself, eat a healthy diet, refrain from strenuous activities which would put your kidney to risk and do regular check ups, you will be able to lead a normal life.
I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if you have further questions.
Wishing you good health and all the best.
Please see as follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern.
Staghorn calculi are difficult to treat as they usually expand through different sections of the kidney, blocking the urine formation and passage. This kind of calculi are usually a consequence of repeated urinary tract infections. Due to their size and shape, they often need open surgery in order to be removed, as de-bulking, with this kind of stone is not enough, or needs to be completely cleaned and removed, due to its high recurrence.
Unfortunately, infection and kidney loss are the main consequences of this surgery, however not very frequent. In the unlikely event that you do lose the kidney, the body has to rely completely on the other one, which will work 40% more than when working in a pair.
The main possible consequence of living with a kidney is high blood pressure. Your doctor will regularly measure your GFR, which is a measure of how well kidney filters, and also check for protein in your urine. If the protein in urine is high, this may lead to increased water and sodium retention and swelling, and your doctor will guide you through the amount of protein intake in your diet.
Since you have a tendency to kidney stones, you will have to be on antibiotics every now and then to prevent recurring infections, which leads to stone formation.
There are many people who live normal, quality lives with a single kidney, so as long as you take care of yourself, eat a healthy diet, refrain from strenuous activities which would put your kidney to risk and do regular check ups, you will be able to lead a normal life.
I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if you have further questions.
Wishing you good health and all the best.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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