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Ashwini Kidney Centre
Resource Centre

Kidney Disease
Treatments & Information

Comprehensive, evidence-based information on common kidney conditions — from urinary stones to renal failure — and how our specialists treat them.

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About the Kidneys

Understanding Kidney Disease

The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen — each about the size of a fist. Their primary function is to filter the blood, removing wastes, controlling fluid balance, and regulating electrolytes.

Kidney disease (also called renal disease) is a general term for any damage that reduces the kidney's functioning ability. Early detection and expert care are key to managing renal conditions effectively.

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Treatment Information

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Urinary Stone

Urinary or kidney stones are hardened mineral deposits that gather on the way from the renal pelvis in the kidney to the bladder. Medically known as nephrolithiasis or renal stone disease, they originate as microscopic particles and develop over time. The kidneys filter waste from blood, and when waste materials don't dissolve completely, crystals and stones form.

Stones can block urine flow and cause severe, sudden pain radiating from the lower back to the side or groin — often accompanied by vomiting and blood in the urine.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Blood in the urine
  • Increased frequency of urination
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Pain and burning during urination
  • Fever, chills, and loss of appetite
  • Urinary tract infection

Treatment Options

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

Uses highly focused electromagnetic waves projected from outside the body to crush kidney stones anywhere in the urinary system. The stone is reduced to sand-like particles that pass in the urine. Performed using the 4th generation "Siemens Lithotriptor" with ultrasound attachment — effective even for radiolucent stones invisible to standard fluoroscopy.

Percutaneous Nephrostolithotomy (PCNL)

A minimally invasive procedure under local anaesthesia. A telescope with mechanical lithotriptor is inserted to break large and complicated stones into fine particles. Most patients resume normal activity within 2 weeks.

Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy with Holmium Laser

A small fiberoptic ureteroscope is passed into the ureter; a 100-Watt Coherent Holmium Laser fragments stones of all compositions into sand-like particles flushed out naturally. Only 24 hours hospitalisation required — the most effective laser for ureteric stones.

Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. The two most common types are Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) and Urothelial Cell Carcinoma (UCC) of the renal pelvis — named for the type of cell from which the cancer developed.

Early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes. If you experience any of the symptoms below, consult a nephrologist or urologist promptly.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Blood in the urine (rusty to deep red colour)
  • Persistent pain in the side
  • A lump or mass in the side or abdomen
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Persistent fever
  • Fatigue or general feeling of poor health

Diagnosis

Physical Exam & Urine/Blood Tests

Checks general signs of health, fever, blood pressure, and kidney function markers like creatinine levels.

Ultrasound & CT Scan

Ultrasound uses sound waves to detect solid tumours or cysts; CT scan provides a detailed series of images to confirm a kidney tumour.

Biopsy & Surgery

A thin needle removes small tissue samples for pathological examination. Most cases proceed to surgical removal based on imaging results.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the stage of disease and the patient's general health. Specialists in urology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology collaborate to develop a personalised treatment plan. Patients are encouraged to ask questions and participate actively in their care decisions.

Enlarged Prostate

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland present only in men, located just below the bladder surrounding the urethra. After age 40, the prostate commonly begins to enlarge — a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). It is not cancer and does not raise prostate cancer risk.

Many men with an enlarged prostate have no symptoms, but when symptoms do occur, they relate to urinary function.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Blood in the urine (haematuria)
  • Dribbling after voiding
  • Feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully
  • Frequent urination, particularly at night (nocturia)
  • Hesitant, interrupted, or weak urine stream
  • Leakage of urine (overflow incontinence)
  • Sudden, urgent need to urinate

Treatment Options

Self-Care & Lifestyle

Urinate promptly when you feel the urge. Avoid alcohol and caffeine after dinner, spread fluid intake throughout the day, and avoid drinking within 2 hours of bedtime. Keep warm and exercise regularly — cold weather and inactivity can worsen symptoms.

Drug Treatment

Alpha-blockers relax muscle fibres controlling prostate tension, reducing pressure on the urethra. 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (e.g., Finasteride, Dutasteride) block DHT production and can reduce prostate size by up to 30%, potentially delaying the need for surgery.

Surgical Options

TURP (Transurethral Resection) is the most common operation — a resectoscope chips away prostate tissue via the urethra. TUIP makes small cuts for less enlarged prostates. Open prostatectomy is reserved for very large prostates and requires up to a week in hospital.

Urethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the urethra — the tube that releases urine from the body. It can result from injury, infection, or inflammation, and restricts urine flow to varying degrees.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Dysuria (painful urination)
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Slow or spraying urine stream
  • Decreased urine output
  • Increased urinary frequency or urgency
  • Incontinence
  • Lower abdominal pain
  • Bloody or dark urine
  • Urethral discharge
  • Swelling of the penis or scrotum
  • Urinary retention
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections

Treatment

Visual Internal Urethrotomy

Suitable for small strictures. A urethral catheter is left in place after the procedure to allow healing. Simple and effective for early-stage narrowing.

Open Urethroplasty

For longer strictures — the diseased portion is surgically removed or replaced with tissue from another part of the body. Results vary based on stricture length, prior therapies, and surgeon experience.

Suprapubic Catheter & Urinary Diversion

A suprapubic catheter allows the bladder to drain through the abdomen when acute retention is present. In severe cases, an Appendicovesicostomy (Mitrofanoff procedure) allows self-catheterisation through the abdominal wall.

Renal Failure

Renal failure (kidney failure or renal insufficiency) is a condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the blood. The two main forms are:

  • Acute Kidney Injury — often reversible with adequate treatment
  • Chronic Kidney Disease — often not reversible; requires long-term management

Main causes of acute renal failure: sudden drop in blood flow to the kidneys; damage from medicines, poisons, or infections; sudden blockage stopping urine flow from the kidneys.

Signs & Symptoms

  • Little or no urine output when urinating
  • Swelling, especially in legs and feet
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion, anxiety, restlessness, or excessive sleepiness
  • Flank pain (pain in the back just below the rib cage)

Treatment

Treating the Underlying Cause

The nephrologist will diagnose and treat the root cause — restoring blood flow to the kidneys, stopping causative medicines, or removing/bypassing urinary tract blockages. Treatment varies widely based on the cause.

Dialysis

When waste builds up dangerously in the body, dialysis uses a machine to perform the kidneys' filtering function until they recover (in acute cases) or as long-term management (in chronic cases). It significantly improves quality of life and well-being.

Preventing Complications

Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent or treat infections. Additional medicines help eliminate excess fluid and maintain the body's mineral balance. Close monitoring by our nephrology team ensures complications are caught early.

Concerned about kidney function?

Our DM-qualified nephrologists are here to assess and guide you.

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