Mr. An, a 74-year-old man from Dong Nai, had been struggling with a persistent urinary tract infection for an extended period. He visited the doctor and discovered that he had a large mass of coral stones in his left kidney, measuring 10×5 cm with branches resembling ginger root. This was the reason why his infection had not been cured.
Six years ago, Mr. An had a small stone in his left kidney but did not seek treatment for occasional pain in his back and hips. Recently, he developed a fever and chills, leading to a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection. Despite three weeks of antibiotic treatment, his condition did not improve, prompting him to visit Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for further examination.
Specialist II Pham Thanh Truc from the Department of Urology identified the mass of coral stones in Mr. An’s left kidney during the examination. Due to the complex structure of the stones, traditional open surgery posed risks to his kidney function. Percutaneous lithotripsy, a less invasive and more modern approach, was chosen for his treatment.
During the percutaneous lithotripsy procedure, small tools were inserted through a tiny “tunnel” in Mr. An’s back to break up and remove the stones. This approach was less damaging to his kidney function and allowed for a quicker recovery time than traditional open surgery would have required. The treatment was divided into two sessions to ensure complete removal of the stones while preserving his health.
After successful treatment at Tam Anh General Hospital, Mr. An’s kidney function was preserved, and he was discharged two days after the procedure.
Dr Truc emphasized that regular health check-ups are crucial to prevent complications from kidney stones such as coral stones which can grow silently over time without causing typical symptoms.
To prevent coral stones Dr Truc recommends staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day as well as limiting certain foods such as dairy products or foods high in protein like meat or fish which can increase calcium levels in your urine.
Additionally holding your urine for too long should be avoided since it allows bacteria to multiply rapidly which increases the risk of developing an infection.
Early detection and treatment of urinary tract infections are crucial to preventing complications like coral stone formation and preserving kidney function overall.
