Hydronephrosis Treatment in Delhi & Gurgaon
Understanding Kidney Swelling Due to Urine Flow Obstruction
Illustration showing kidney swelling due to urine flow obstruction
What is Hydronephrosis?
Hydronephrosis (upper urinary tract dilation) is a condition where something keeps pee (urine) from flowing from your kidney to your bladder. When that happens, one or both of your kidneys swell.
It can be sudden or chronic, partial or complete, one-sided or bilateral (both sides). If only one kidney is affected, the condition is called unilateral hydronephrosis. If both kidneys are affected, it's called bilateral hydronephrosis. It can also vary in severity from mild swelling to severe swelling.
Important: Hydronephrosis may lead to loss of kidney function or kidney failure. However, prompt treatment reduces the risk of long-term complications.
How Your Urinary Tract Works
The main job of your urinary tract is to remove waste and fluid from your body. Your urinary tract consists of:
Two Kidneys
Kidneys clean toxins and waste out of your blood.
Two Ureters
Ureters are ducts that carry pee from your kidney to your bladder.
Bladder
Your bladder is an organ that stores your pee.
Urethra
Your urethra is a tube that lets pee leave your body.
Note: Often, a blockage or obstruction between your kidney and ureter is the cause of hydronephrosis.
How Common is Hydronephrosis?
In Adults
Hydronephrosis can occur in people of all ages. It occurs in about 1 in 100 adultsat some point in their life.
In Infants
In infants, it's often due to an obstruction (blockage) that happens during fetal development (antenatal hydronephrosis). This occurs in up to 1% of all pregnancies. It usually resolves on its own before birth.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the symptoms of hydronephrosis?
Symptoms of hydronephrosis usually depend on the cause. Often, there aren't any symptoms. Antenatal hydronephrosis in babies doesn't usually cause symptoms after birth.
When symptoms occur, they can include:
- Sudden or intense pain in your sides, abdomen or back
- Nausea or vomiting
- Painful urination
- Blood in your pee
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Being unable to completely empty your bladder
- Peeing more or less than normal
UTI Symptoms (Common with Hydronephrosis):
Your chances of getting a UTI increase if you have hydronephrosis because pee is trapped in your body. This can lead to bacteria growing in your urinary tract.
What causes hydronephrosis?
The most common cause of hydronephrosis is a blockage or obstruction in one of the parts of your urinary tract. Many conditions can cause this.
In Adults:
In People with a Uterus:
In Babies (Antenatal Hydronephrosis):
Diagnosis and Tests
How is hydronephrosis diagnosed?
Getting a diagnosis from your healthcare provider quickly is important because hydronephrosis can cause long-term kidney damage.
Physical Examination
Check for tenderness, swelling, medical history review
Urine Tests
Analyze for blood, crystals, bacteria, infection
Blood Tests
CBC, kidney function (creatinine, eGFR, BUN)
Imaging Procedures
Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI
Fetal Diagnosis:
A healthcare provider can detect hydronephrosis in a fetus as early as the first trimester on an ultrasound. It's typically discovered during a 20-week ultrasound. A diagnosis at this time usually means the birth mother needs additional ultrasounds to monitor the fetus. However, most cases resolve on their own.
Complications
What are the complications of hydronephrosis?
Severe cases of hydronephrosis can damage your kidneys and lead to kidney failure.
If this happens, you may need treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant. Most people recover from hydronephrosis and don't cause permanent damage to their kidneys.
Key Takeaways
Understanding Hydronephrosis
- • Kidney swelling due to urine flow obstruction
- • Can be unilateral or bilateral
- • Ranges from mild to severe swelling
- • Affects 1 in 100 adults, 1% of pregnancies
Important Considerations
- • Prompt treatment prevents kidney damage
- • Often asymptomatic, especially in infants
- • Can lead to UTIs and kidney failure
- • Most fetal cases resolve spontaneously
Remember: If you experience symptoms like back pain, urinary changes, or signs of UTI, consult a healthcare provider promptly for evaluation and appropriate management.