Urinary calculi is a very common disease, which has harmed humans since ancient times. The earliest evidence is bladder stones in the mummies 7000 years ago. The disease has not decreased due to the development of civilization, but has gradually increased. The annual prevalence rate in Taiwan is about 9.6%, and the incidence rate is 14.5% for men and 4.3% for women. If there is no active prevention and treatment, the recurrence rate in the first year is 10%, 35% in five years, and 10% in ten years. It is more than 50%. Although the lithotripsy treatment has changed greatly in the past 12 years, from the previous operation to lithotripsy treatment, the recurrence rate is still high, reaching 65%-95%, and few people are spared.

Urinary calculi is a multifactorial disease. For example, genetic, infection, climate, diet, geographical environment and ethnic factors have been suggested to be related to it. Even the ingress of foreign bodies may also be the cause of the disease; due to the eating habits of the ancestors It is not exactly the same as ours. At the same time, the change in eating habits only changes the place where the stones occur, and has no effect on the incidence. According to a study, the chance of a child with a father having stones is 3.44 times that of ordinary people, a mother having stones is 4.79 times, and if both parents have stones, it is up to 10 times more. In recent years, the age of occurrence of stones has gradually become earlier, and the proportion of calcium stones has increased. Some stones are even passed on from generation to generation. We have enough reason to believe that genes may be an important factor in stone disease.

Our hospital has spared no effort in studying its treatment methods and pathogenic factors for this disease, hoping to serve more patients with stones. Undergraduate and cooperate with major academic institutions to explore the relationship between genes and stone disease. The hospital is equipped with a variety of lithotripsy equipment, including a new generation of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters, ultrasonic lithotripters, hydroelectric wave lithotripters, and air shock lithotripters, and specializes in various operations In addition, there is an infrared spectrum analyzer to analyze the components of the stones, welcome to make good use of. For details, please contact our urologist.

What are kidney stones?

• The kidney is an organ that filters and separates chemical substances from the blood. These substances eventually become urine. If the chemical substances form a solid in the kidney, it is a stone. It is like a stone or mineral containing a small amount of protein. The common main component is calcium oxalate. But calcium phosphate, uric acid, cystine and other substances are also possible ingredients. The color ranges from yellowish brown to milky white, the size ranges from small gravels to huge stones, and the shapes are smooth, polygonal and prickly.

Why do kidney stones grow?

• When there is an imbalance in the chemical state of the urine, the crystals will be easy to form, such as drinking less water to concentrate the urine, or a sudden increase of a certain metabolite in the body, etc., and some are family or genetic factors, and environmental and nutritional effects. Will promote the formation of stones.

Does the stone definitely hurt?

• Stones will have different symptoms depending on their size, shape and location. Many ureteral stones will have sudden severe cramps in the waist. The pain will radiate to the testicles or the inner thighs. People will feel extremely restless, hematuria, infection, Symptoms such as bowel obstruction and fever may also occur. Some are nausea, vomiting, frequent urination, and painful urination. Waist percussion pain is obvious in the acute phase, accompanied by sweating, abdominal distension, etc., but rarely aggravates with posture changes; More than half of the patients may be asymptomatic. Although the stones are still there after the acute pain is relieved, the symptoms may disappear completely. So even if you have no symptoms, you should return to the clinic regularly to avoid permanent kidney damage caused by obstruction of the urinary system.
• If you have any questions after leaving the hospital, please use the emergency 24-hour consultation service phone：
• Medical consultation telephone: (04) 22052121 ext. 15150 or 15151
• Drug consultation telephone: (04) 22052121 ext. 15124
• Pediatric medical consultation telephone: (04) 22052121 ext. 15158