The human renal pelvis is a cavity formed at the junction of the calyces. This is where urine collects before entering the ureter. Normal size renal pelvis varies depending on the physique of each person and the special structure of it internal organs. An enlarged renal pelvis in an adult may have other causes, in addition to congenital ones. This disease is called hydronephrosis. initial stage hydronephrosis is called pyeloectasia.
Causes of enlarged renal pelvis in an adult
An anomaly of the pelvis can be congenital, or it can appear in adulthood. Pyeelectasia, or in other words, dilatation of the renal pelvis is caused by various factors, due to which the outflow of urine is disrupted. It can be:
- Urolithiasis – blockage of the ureter by a kidney stone
- Narrowing, compression, or torsion of the ureter (due to tumor, injury)
Congenital pathologies may also occur, but in 70% of cases they disappear spontaneously within childhood. Otherwise, they undergo treatment, conservative or surgical. Thus, congenital untreated anomalies in adults are quite rare, unless they are so pronounced that they were not detected in time.
Treatment
Having identified the causes of dilation of the renal pelvis, the specialist will determine the most appropriate treatment tactics. The first step is to prevent possible inflammatory processes. To do this, they use antibiotics that can destroy pathogenic microorganisms; they recommend that the patient reduce fluid intake and give up diuretics - in order not to provoke further advancement of the stone (if this is the case).
Treatment of an enlarged renal pelvis may require surgery, the probability of which is approximately 40%. However, it is difficult to predict the course of the disease, so before deciding on surgical intervention, doctors carefully examine the patient. Treatment of an enlarged renal pelvis using laparoscopic methods helps to remove the obstruction and normalize the outflow of urine.
An enlarged renal pelvis in an adult clearly means a deviation in urinary function excretory system. This is not an independent disease, but a symptom indicating a violation of urine flow. Treatment depends on the causes of the detected pathology.
- Causes and classification of pyelectasis
The renal pelvis is a container that collects urine and then passes it into the ureters and bladder. If there are pathological obstacles to the movement of urine, it accumulates, which can cause the renal pelvis to become enlarged. This disease is called pyelectasis. It can be diagnosed not only in an adult, but also in a child.
An enlarged pelvis occurs due to a violation of the outflow of urine into the ureter. In a child, pathology may be caused by congenital abnormalities urinary system . Direct causes include kinking of the ureter due to abnormal placement of the kidney or a decrease in its lumen. To detect pyeloectasia of the left or right kidney in the fetus, an ultrasound is performed at 15-19 weeks of development.
In an adult, an enlarged pelvis usually occurs due to urolithiasis, when a stone enters the pelvic region or ureter. Also, pyeloectasia can be a consequence of a tumor formation, when it puts pressure on the ureter, blocking it.
Depending on the extent of the lesion, unilateral or bilateral pyelectasis is distinguished. However, the left kidney is less susceptible to this disease than the right, which is due to the peculiarities of its structure. Enlargement of the renal pelvis is also classified according to the severity of the disease. According to this principle, the disease can occur in mild, moderate and severe forms. The severity of the pathology is determined by the ability of the kidneys to perform their functions.
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Symptoms and complications of an enlarged renal pelvis
Typically, pyeloectasia in children and adults is completely asymptomatic. The patient can only be disturbed by the symptoms of the underlying disease, which leads to dilation of the renal pelvis. Stagnation of urine that occurs during illness sometimes causes tissue atrophy, the development of sclerosis and renal failure, which in the absence of qualified treatment can lead to fatal outcome.
Enlargement of the renal pelvis may be accompanied by the following diseases:
- ectopia, in which in boys the ureter flows into the urethra, and in girls into the vagina;
- megaureter (significant increase in the size of the urinary duct);
- vesicoureteral reflux - a process in which urine from Bladder goes back to the kidney.
Due to the occurrence of inflammatory processes, a patient whose renal pelvis is dilated may also suffer from pyelonephritis and cystitis.
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Diagnosis and treatment of pyelectasis
For pelvis sizes up to 7 mm, periodic examinations of the kidneys and bladder are carried out, which must be done every 2-4 months. Ultrasound examinations for children are prescribed once every 6 months.
As the disease progresses, the doctor may prescribe cystography, urography, or X-ray examination, in which a special contrast agent is injected into the bladder.
Treatment of an enlarged pelvis is mainly aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disease.
Congenital pathologies are treated with surgery. When narrowing excretory duct Stenting is used, that is, the introduction of special frames into the narrowed areas of the duct.
If pyeloectasia occurs due to urolithiasis, then treatment is based on removing stones from the kidneys. In this case, both conservative and surgical treatment methods can be used. Urologists often prescribe various physiotherapeutic procedures. In some cases, herbal treatment helps.
To prevent the occurrence of enlargement of the renal pelvis, there are various measures: timely and high-quality treatment of diseases of the urinary system, limiting fluid intake and following other recommendations of the attending physician, which can be prescribed on an individual basis.
Complete collection and description: treatment for enlarged renal pelvis and other information for human treatment.
- Date: 11-02-2015
- Rating: 27
The renal pelvis is a container that collects urine and then passes it into the ureters and bladder. If there are pathological obstacles to the movement of urine, it accumulates, which can cause the renal pelvis to become enlarged. This disease is called pyelectasis. It can be diagnosed not only in an adult, but also in a child.
Causes and classification of pyelectasis
An enlarged pelvis occurs due to a violation of the outflow of urine into the ureter. In a child, the pathology may be caused by congenital abnormalities of the urinary system. Direct causes include kinking of the ureter due to abnormal placement of the kidney or a decrease in its lumen. To detect pyeloectasia of the left or right kidney in the fetus, an ultrasound is performed at 15-19 weeks of development.
In an adult, an enlarged pelvis usually occurs due to urolithiasis, when a stone enters the pelvic region or ureter. Also, pyeloectasia can be a consequence of a tumor formation, when it puts pressure on the ureter, blocking it.
Depending on the extent of the lesion, unilateral or bilateral pyelectasis is distinguished. However, the left kidney is less susceptible to this disease than the right, which is due to the peculiarities of its structure. Enlargement of the renal pelvis is also classified according to the severity of the disease. According to this principle, the disease can occur in mild, moderate and severe forms. The severity of the pathology is determined by the ability of the kidneys to perform their functions.
Return to contents
Symptoms and complications of an enlarged renal pelvis
Typically, pyeloectasia in children and adults is completely asymptomatic. The patient can only be disturbed by the symptoms of the underlying disease, which leads to dilation of the renal pelvis. Stagnation of urine that occurs during illness sometimes causes tissue atrophy, the development of sclerosis and renal failure, which in the absence of qualified treatment can lead to death.
Enlargement of the renal pelvis may be accompanied by the following diseases:
- ectopia, in which in boys the ureter flows into the urethra, and in girls into the vagina;
- megaureter (significant increase in the size of the urinary duct);
- Vesicoureteral reflux is a process in which urine from the bladder flows back into the kidney.
Due to the occurrence of inflammatory processes, a patient whose renal pelvis is dilated may also suffer from pyelonephritis and cystitis.
Return to contents
Diagnosis and treatment of pyelectasis
For pelvis sizes up to 7 mm, periodic examinations of the kidneys and bladder are carried out, which must be done every 2-4 months. Ultrasound examinations for children are prescribed once every 6 months.
As the disease progresses, the doctor may prescribe cystography, urography, or an X-ray examination, in which a special contrast agent is injected into the bladder.
Treatment of an enlarged pelvis is mainly aimed at eliminating the root cause of the disease.
Congenital pathologies are treated with surgery. When the excretory duct is narrowed, stenting is used, that is, the introduction of special frames into the narrowed areas of the duct.
If pyeloectasia occurs due to urolithiasis, then treatment is based on removing stones from the kidneys. In this case, both conservative and surgical treatment methods can be used. Urologists often prescribe various physiotherapeutic procedures. In some cases, herbal treatment helps.
To prevent the occurrence of enlargement of the renal pelvis, there are various measures: timely and high-quality treatment of diseases of the urinary system, limiting fluid intake and following other recommendations of the attending physician, which can be prescribed on an individual basis.
The renal pelvis is a special cavity for storing urine from the kidneys. It then travels through the ureters to the bladder. Enlargement of the pelvis caused by inflammatory processes is a pathology, the treatment of which directly depends on the timeliness of diagnosis and development of the problem.
Causes of inflammatory processes
This disease has a unilateral or bilateral form, which is distinguished by stage by mild, moderate and severe form. The causes of inflammatory processes are congenital with stenosis of the urethra, clearly defined phimosis, or neurogenic interruptions in the functioning of the bladder. In addition to this, it can be noted:
- increased pressure inside the bladder due to blockage of the channels;
- blockage of the lumens in the urinary ducts;
- return of urine to the kidneys.
With the development of urolithiasis and not enough effective treatment the remaining stones can be located directly in the renal pelvis or in the ureters. There may be a direct impact of oncological tumors, resulting in an enlarged renal pelvis in adults, and treatment should begin immediately.
At age-related changes the causes include hormonal changes, pathology based on inflammatory or infectious processes, blockage of the urethra due to injury and illness. The most common deformations of the pelvis are found with congenital and acquired organic narrowings that occur during sufficiently long-term stagnation of urine.
Diagnosis of the disease
Quite often, inflammatory processes go unnoticed and cannot be clearly characterized severe symptoms. Clinical picture in this situation, it usually demonstrates only clearly visible pathology. It should be taken into account that stagnant urine dynamics causes the development of infection. With such hidden form Availability of this disease It is usually detected completely by chance during ultrasound examinations for other issues.
During laboratory examinations, a specialist is required to record the size of the renal pelvis at different moments; in addition, other diagnostic methods are used to obtain a more complete picture of the disease: cystography, urography.
Most often, studies reveal narrowing of the canals as a result of the presence of stones, causing stagnation of urine and inflammatory processes. Detected inflammation of the renal pelvis requires treatment with maximum effectiveness.
Treatment of enlarged renal pelvis
Before starting treatment in adult patients, it is necessary to identify the causes of the disease in order to select the most effective therapy. If the congenital nature of the disease is discovered, it can only be dealt with through surgical intervention, which is confirmed by positive experience over many years.
In a child under one year old, this problem disappears with age - the baby “outgrows” his illness in 70% of recorded cases. The remaining 30% get excellent results when carrying out drug therapy(25%) and surgical method based on endoscopy (5%).
Non-serious attitude of parents towards this problem in children younger age threatens in the future with enlargement of the bladder and other ailments directly related to the development chronic pyelonephritis and cystitis.
Treatment of enlarged renal pelvis should include the eradication of the root cause causing disruption of the urinary canals. The presence of stones suggests surgical measures or the use of effective drugs based herbal remedies and traditional medicine methods. At surgical method treatment, it is possible to use special frames that are inserted into the damaged canal. Lately The endoscopy method is popular, in which the operation can be performed with miniature instruments and without leaving large scars.
For preventive purposes, you can use a variety of measures, the effectiveness of which has been proven by numerous studies:
- treatment of the urinary system at the first signs of disease development;
- control over the intake and removal of fluid from the body;
- timely visit to the doctor and follow all his recommendations.
What is the danger of this pathology?
The expansion of the renal pelvis, just like the prolapse of the kidney, causes quite serious interruptions in the functioning of the urinary system. The process of stagnation of urine in the canals causes an increase in pressure in the kidneys, which is fraught with the development of atrophy of the kidney tissue. Infection leads to the development of pyelonephritis, which can cause sclerosis of this body or go into a chronic stage.
An increase in the size of the renal pelvis does not in itself represent separate disease, but is a sign of the development of interruptions in the functioning of the system for removing urine from the body. Therefore, eliminating pathology with therapeutic or surgical methods directly depends on identifying the causes that cause it.
Conclusion
If there is a suspicion of inflammatory processes in the renal pelvis, it is necessary to undergo examinations in the laboratory. If ultrasound has detected changes before and after urine loss of 7 mm or more, treatment should be started as soon as possible. Changes in the size of the pelvis lead to serious complications, which are expressed in the development of renal sclerosis, pyelonephritis or kidney atrophy.
In order to completely eliminate in the future possible problems in this area, preventive examinations should be carried out every 4-6 months for adults and once every 6 months for children. Such measures make it possible to notice the slightest return of the disease and contribute to the rapid adoption of the necessary therapeutic actions.
Sincerely,
In modern medical practice diseases are common genitourinary system. Among them, a common pathology is an enlarged renal pelvis, which is accompanied by difficult outflow of urine. The pelvis is the place where urine from the kidneys is collected and flows into the ureters. Children and adults are susceptible to the disease. More often, the renal pelvis is dilated in a male child.
The disease can be unilateral or bilateral, when one or both pelvis is affected. According to the degree of difficulty, they are divided into light, medium and severe forms.
The causes of dilatation can be dynamic congenital, when the disease develops as a result of stenosis of the external opening of the urethra, severe phimosis, organic narrowing of the urethra, neurogenic bladder dysfunction.
In dynamic acquired cases, an enlarged renal pelvis is formed due to hormonal changes, inflammatory pathologies of the kidneys, infectious processes, tumors of the urethra or prostate, narrowing of the urethra of an inflammatory or traumatic nature, benign prostate adenoma.
Organic congenital include anomalies of the ureter, kidneys, walls of the upper urinary tract.
Organic acquired ones occur with inflammation of the ureter and tissues surrounding it, tumors of the genitourinary system, nephroptosis (prolapse) of the kidney, urolithiasis.
Most often, the dilated renal pelvis is asymptomatic. Signs of the underlying pathology that caused the development of the disease bring concern. Infectious and inflammatory processes that develop during prolonged stagnation of urine in the pelvis also make themselves felt.
In most cases, pathology is detected during pregnancy or during the first year of a child’s life. Some experts attribute this disease to congenital structural features. Often an enlarged renal pelvis in a child occurs during intensive growth, since at this time the location of the organs changes relative to each other. At an older age, expansion occurs when the lumen of the ureters is blocked by a stone.
First of all, the following points should be of concern. When performing an ultrasound examination (ultrasound), a change in the volume of the pelvis occurs before and after the process of urination. If the size of the organ is 7 mm or more, and the change occurs within a year.
An enlarged renal pelvis can lead to complications: decreased kidney function, inflammation (pyelonephritis), atrophy of the kidney tissue (reduction in size), kidney sclerosis, a condition accompanied by the death of urinary-producing kidney tissue.
Enlarged renal pelvis: diagnosis and treatment
For pelvis sizes up to seven mm, control studies of the kidneys and bladder are performed, which are performed every 1-3 months. Ultrasounds for children after one year of age are prescribed once every six months. As the disease progresses, urography and cystography are performed, X-ray research methods using a contrast agent, which is injected through a catheter into the bladder.
During urography, a contrast agent is administered intravenously. With the help of these studies, the true cause of the development of pelvic expansion is determined.
Treatment of an enlarged renal pelvis is primarily aimed at eliminating the cause that led to the disruption of urine outflow. Congenital abnormalities are corrected using surgical operations. When the ureter is narrowed, stenting is used, which involves inserting special frames into the narrowed areas. For enlargements resulting from urolithiasis, a method for removing stones is selected, which may consist of conservative or surgical treatment. A variety of physiotherapeutic procedures are often used. In some cases, herbal treatment is prescribed.
Particular attention is paid to preventing the development of inflammatory processes. Surgical interventions produce endoscopic methods using miniature tools.
All about the kidneys > Types of diseases > Signs and diagnosis of enlarged renal pelvis
Signs of an enlarged pelvis
Suffering from diseases of the genitourinary system great amount of people. Often a person feels pain in the lumbar region, but chalks it up to fatigue, overwork, or an uncomfortable sleeping position.
But this may be the first sign that your kidneys are damaged. One of frequent illnesses in this area there is pyeloectasia, or dilatation of the renal pelvis.
But what is it, why is it dangerous and how to treat it? These are the first questions that swirl in the head of a patient who first heard his diagnosis from his attending physician.
In order to understand this disease, it is necessary to turn to the anatomy of the kidneys.
A healthy person has 2 kidneys, about the size of a fist and shaped like beans. They are located on both sides of the spine and perform very important functions– one of which is the formation and removal of urine (urine) from the body. The renal pelvis is involved in this process; it collects urine and then sends it through the ureter to the bladder.
If the renal pelvis enlarges, then urine does not pass out or flows very poorly into the ureter, which means urinary retention occurs, which is good.
This disease mainly affects boys and males, but the weaker sex suffers from this disease 6-7 times less often.
This disease rarely occurs independently; most often this pathology accompanies infections or structural anomalies.
As a result of the development of fetal anomalies, the child's renal pelvis may be enlarged. This is discovered for the first time years of life, using ultrasound. Most often, such children are born when the pregnant mother is under severe stress, eats poorly and has bad habits.
But don’t be scared if your child has been diagnosed with this. It is not at all necessary to go under the surgeon’s knife, because mild forms go away on their own, or with the help conservative treatment.
Causes of enlarged renal pelvis
- Narrowing of the urinary tract.
- Increased pressure in the bladder.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Vesicoureteral reflux, i.e. reverse flow of urine from the bladder.
- Weakness of the muscular system in newborns (most often found in premature babies).
- Constant overflow of the bladder, which is why you can’t stand it when you want to go to the toilet.
- Urolithiasis disease.
- Inflammatory kidney diseases, such as pyelonephritis.
- Renal colic.
- Large intake of fluid that the kidney cannot cope with.
- Decreased peristalsis, occurs in bedridden patients
Prolonged pyelectasis can lead to impaired kidney function, as well as to its inflammation, so if you feel unwell, it is better to consult a nephrologist or urologist.
The danger of pyeloectasia is that with prolonged obstruction of urine outflow from the kidney, tissue compression occurs, accompanied by kidney atrophy, as a result of which the kidney may die.
Enlargement of the renal pelvis - diagnosis
In most cases it is possible to detect this pathology during a routine (once a year) ultrasound examination (ultrasound). But, when unknown etiology the doctor can prescribe additional methods diagnostics, for example, urological examination, cystography, urography or radioisotope examination of the kidneys.
If this disease is detected in a child at birth, surgery is performed extremely rarely. It usually goes away on its own when the child’s urinary system organs mature.
The operation is performed in 40% of cases. Based on diagnostic data, the doctor decides whether to carry out it or whether conservative treatment can be done.
At surgical treatment an obstacle is eliminated, for example, a stone or vesicoureteral reflux that contributes to the expansion of the pelvis.
In the human kidneys there are so-called pelvises. They are special containers that hold urine before it passes into the ureter. In a normal healthy state, the size of the pelvis can vary depending on human parameters: height, weight, general physique. However, if the doctor discovers that the patient’s renal pelvis is dilated and it has been in this state relatively recently, then he diagnoses pyelectasis. More advanced stages represent serious abnormalities and pathologies.
It should be noted that the pelvis is part of a single pyelocaliceal system, which is responsible for the accumulation and subsequent transportation of urine. The fact is that the calyx and pelvis are connected by a very narrow passage called the neck. By its nature, it is very small in diameter, so the slightest blockage can lead to expansion of the renal pelvis.
Basic prerequisites for pelvis enlargement
Most often, this disease occurs as a congenital disease, but it can also be acquired during life. In general, an enlargement of the renal pelvis is a sign of improper outflow of urine, which, in turn, is the root cause of the deviation. But it is worth considering specific factors predisposing to the development of the disease:
- kidney stones;
- bladder fullness;
- formation of tumors in the organs of the excretory system;
- narrowing of the urinary tract due to injury;
- disturbances of normal urinary outflow, in particular, its weakening due to an enlarged pelvis;
- inflammatory processes occurring in the urinary system;
- increase in intrarenal pressure.
Genetics also plays an important role. If there were or are people in your family suffering from kidney diseases, then there is a high probability that it will work hereditary factor. Therefore, it is always important to protect the health of your loved ones, and if necessary, send them for examination.
If you do not want your children - the future generation - to be exposed to urolithiasis, then start taking care of yourself first, consult a doctor and do not delay treatment.
And all of the above reasons are associated primarily with other diseases of the human excretory system. In addition, some patients have anatomical abnormalities, resulting in abnormal organ structure. They are also the causes of dilation of the pelvis, so it is recommended to on a regular basis undergo a hospital examination at least once a year.
Kidney diseases are the root cause of dilated pelvis
Symptoms and diagnosis of pyelectasis
It is quite difficult to identify kidney diseases on your own, for this reason they may remain for a long time unnoticed. To understand that the pelvis is enlarged, you need to know the corresponding signs that the patient can observe. It is worth noting that the course of the disease and, in general, are somewhat different from what adults observe. Therefore, here we will look at the main signs and symptoms that occur when the renal pelvis enlarges in an adult (but remember that pyeelectasis is not the main disease, but occurs as a complication):
- Pain in the lumbar area. Although they can be caused by other abnormalities, it is important to consider their severity.
- Poor urine flow is unpleasant urination associated with urine retention, but at the same time you often want to go to the toilet.
- The occurrence or presence of all kinds of infections, and they can also manifest themselves in their own way.
Such a small number of signs that the renal pelvis is enlarged suggests that this phenomenon is practically asymptomatic. However, everyone should have basic ideas and knowledge. Now the only question is the correct diagnosis.
Urography is a necessary and useful method for examining the organs of the excretory system.
The most accurate result is provided by ultrasonography. And usually, dilation of the renal pelvis is an extremely unexpected diagnosis for the patient. Therefore, after an ultrasound, the doctor prescribes further examination to help determine the overall condition of the human body. This may include:
- General urine analysis. It is necessary to identify all possible concomitant diseases and infections.
- Cystography. Shows the condition of the bladder: a bright substance is injected into it, after which an x-ray is taken
- Urography. In this method, a dye is also injected, which passes through the kidneys and is then excreted through the excretory organs.
All this helps to most accurately determine the state of the human excretory system and, therefore, prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.
Prevention measures
To avoid such a disease as an enlarged renal pelvis, you should follow some recommendations. To begin with, remember that under no circumstances should you endure or put off going to the toilet for a long time. This can have a negative impact on your entire urinary system.
To prevent further development enlargement of the pelvis, it is important to maintain normal blood circulation and stimulate the outflow of urine
After several hours of sedentary work, it is simply necessary to do at least a small warm-up. Firstly, it will improve blood circulation, and secondly, it will prevent stagnation of urine and normalize its outflow. In general, especially to people in mature age Those whose renal pelvis is dilated need to exercise more often, since many lead a completely inactive lifestyle.
In addition, you can strengthen your immunity with various vitamins, and some prefer folk medicine. This is not bad if the use of tinctures and decoctions does not go beyond the normal, and they, in turn, consist of truly useful components.
Remember! Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, as this will more harm than good. Take vitamins and eat right, but do not overdo it with folk remedies.
Treatment methods for enlarged pelvis
Initially, doctors are struggling with the reasons for the expansion of the collecting system, since it is at this stage that the disease can be most safely eradicated, as well as prevented possible complications and pathology. Based on the results of the examinations and from his professional point of view, the doctor decides whether it is applicable in in this case conservative treatment, and whether the patient needs surgery.
Almost every patient has to start by taking medications, which are able to stop the inflammatory processes occurring in the CLS. In addition, patients are forced to follow a simple diet. It is important to drink less liquids, but not to reach an extreme state, otherwise the body will simply become dehydrated. It is also necessary to give up diuretics, which, by the way, includes coffee.
Current surgery involves painless treatment patients
Next, the doctor looks at the stability of the person’s condition, and again a picture of the renal pelvis is taken. He can prescribe a course of drugs sold strictly according to the prescription, or announce to his patient about the upcoming operation. But there is no need to be afraid of this, because modern technologies allow not to carry out open operations, interfering with the dilated pelvis of the kidney in an adult only through the urethra.
This operation allows you to improve the flow of urine by correcting the position of the cervix. After successful completion of the procedure, the patient can be prescribed medications aimed at restoring the body and immunity as a whole.
Special cases of the disease
The consequences of kidney disease during pregnancy should be considered, since this topic is especially exciting for expectant mothers. Moreover, they cause discomfort, which creates an additional reason for stress for a woman. There are two types of occurrence of this disease:
| Before pregnancy | During pregnancy |
| In this case, doctors prescribe full examination and leave the woman under constant medical supervision, since the stage of the disease could have moved forward long ago, and the consequences could be irreversible for both the pregnant woman and the unborn baby. In extreme cases, a decision may be made to terminate the pregnancy. | Here, special importance is attached to the presence of infections in the body, which can be treated. A pregnant woman is prescribed complete rest and discharged necessary medications, which indicates the possibility of conservative treatment. The main thing is to prevent the disease from passing into acute form, otherwise the outcome will not be happy at all. |
During such a period, the expectant mother simply needs the care of loved ones. Especially considering the fact that the physiological and mental health are closely interconnected. Timely visit to the hospital can prevent the worst consequences, so never delay going to the doctor. Firstly, his consultation will help you monitor your health, and secondly, you will protect not only yourself, but also your loved ones, in particular, children.
What should you do if you are told that you or your child has a dilated renal pelvis? Many people are very frightened by such a diagnosis. How justified are these fears? This article is devoted to these issues.
The renal pelvis is dilated. What does it mean?
Enlargement of the pelvis is called pyeloectasia. If as a result of this process the kidney becomes enlarged, hydronephrosis is diagnosed. This is the name of the disease, as a result of which the pelvis enlarges and expands. The kidney tissue is destroyed, which ultimately causes dysfunction of the affected organ. The disease appears due to a violation of the outflow of urine from the affected pelvis. As a result, disruptions also occur with blood circulation in the kidney tissues. More often women and children suffer from this disease.
Enlarged renal pelvis in a child
In children, the disease usually affects only the right or left kidney. Bilateral hydronephrosis develops very rarely, usually against the background of urological pathologies. The disease can be either congenital or acquired. In the first case, the cause of its appearance is the abnormal (incorrect) development of the upper urinary tract. In the second case, as a result of previous diseases, such as kidney stones, tumors prostate gland or urinary tract, inflammatory changes in the urinary system or other urological pathologies, the renal pelvis may be dilated.
Course of the disease
Regardless of whether the disease is congenital or acquired, it can be infected or aseptic. The disease occurs in 3 stages. At the first stage, the renal pelvis is dilated, the functions of the organ are partially impaired. At the second stage, in addition to the pelvis, the calyx also expands, the kidney tissue becomes thinner, and the functions of the affected organ are seriously impaired. The third stage is characterized by an extremely sharp thinning of the kidney tissue and very severe violation functioning of the affected organ.
The renal pelvis is dilated in the fetus
The disease in children is often congenital. It may occur due to compression or narrowing of the ureter or its abnormal location. Such pathologies lead to disruption of the normal outflow of urine. Often such a deviation is observed already during pregnancy. The disease is diagnosed using ultrasound, starting at 20 weeks. During this period, we can conclude that the renal pelvis is dilated, but the diagnosis is not made in all cases, since most often the pathology disappears on its own as the fetus develops. There is nothing you can do during pregnancy. After birth, on the 3rd day, you need to undergo an ultrasound. In case of severe form, hospitalization is required. When the baby is 2 weeks old, a urography may be prescribed to assess the patency of the ureter. In newborns, a signal of the disease is an enlarged abdomen and the presence of blood in the urine. IN early age the disease is very easy to treat. Most often, surgery is not required. In order for the treatment to be successful and the disease to no longer bother the baby, it is important to make a timely diagnosis and follow all the recommendations of the treating doctor.
