Urinary calculi are one of the main pathologies in men over 50 years of age and overweight. This is revealed by a study coordinated by Dr. Pérez-Castro, head of the Renal Lithotripsy and Endourology Unit of Clínica La Luz. The data show that 66.3% of the patients are men with an average age of 49 years, compared to 33.7% of Spanish women.
Causes of calculi
Lithiasis or urinary calculi is a pathology suffered by two million people in the Spanish population and is caused by diets abundant in proteins, calcium and salt and poor in liquids, fruits and vegetables. In addition, moderate overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of 26.7, also seems to be one of the main causes of this ailment. The way to prevent them is by drinking three liters of water daily and having regular check-ups. This international study, published in the journal of the European Association of Urology, also reveals that, of the 9,681 patients consulted from 32 different countries, those with several stones at the same time tend to be the most overweight (BMI of 27.4).
Treatment: ureteroscopy and shock waves
For years, the best way to resolve urinary tract stones has been through ureteroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed endoscopically. This technique is still the optimal and most effective way for most cases of lithiasis. To use this method, a ureteroscope, a device consisting of a camera, is introduced through the urinary tract in the most minimally invasive way possible, until the stones are located and removed, thanks to a laser. The procedure lasts approximately 45 minutes on average.
Depending on the location of the calculi, another system is chosen, which is shock waves, and of which Dr. Enrique Pérez-Castro has been a pioneer in its use. This second option consists of sending several waves towards the calculus and due to the successive accumulation of the same, a pressure is produced that ends up eliminating it.
Thanks to the ever decreasing size of the ureteroscope diameter and the existence of different types, both rigid and semi-rigid, it is the best way to remove calculi. Even so, depending on the area where this pathology is found, one technique or another is used. In the case of shock waves, they are used in stones that are in high areas, near or inside the kidney. On the other hand, the ureteroscope technique is used on stones located in the distal and middle sections of the urinary system. The study also concludes that 76.6 percent of patients are successfully operated on and see the problem resolved in its entirety.