Hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis refers to swelling of the kidney’s collecting system, caused by obstruction of urine flow at any point along the urinary drainage system. When this happens, it can lead to pain, nausea, vomiting, and infections. Causes of hydronephrosis include:
- Problems with development of the urinary tract (congenital malformations)
- Kidney stones
- Scar tissue
- Tumors
Patients with hydronephrosis are recommended to have a through evaluation of the urinary tract. This involves blood testing to check overall kidney function. Imaging (CT Scan) is also performed to evaluate the kidney and the kidney’s drainage tubes (ureters) for stones, scarring, and tumors. And finally endoscopic evaluation (ureteroscopy).
Ureteroscopy – Patient’s suspected of having obstructed kidneys undergo a procedure known as ureteroscopy. Ureteroscopy is a procedure performed under general anesthesia in the operating room, in which a soft flexible telescope is passed thorugh the urethra and bladder up into the ureters. Through the ureteroscope, we can identify and often treat the various potential causes of hydronephrosis.
