Stones, unfortunately, usually make themselves felt through pain, and this occurs when they mechanically block the outflow of fluid in their organ and an increasing buildup of fluid occurs behind the obstruction. The pain is often colicky in character, and in the case of gallstones and salivary stones, it usually occurs in conjunction with food intake.
Stone disease: Diagnostic Methods
Renal colic can be so painful that the affected person loses consciousness. Sometimes the stones also trigger inflammation with fever and other signs of infection and are then discovered during diagnostic procedures. If a stone is suspected as the cause of the symptoms, imaging techniques are used for diagnosis. Salivary, kidney, and gallstones can be easily visualized on ultrasound, especially if they contain shadow-forming calcium.
Calcified stones can be well visualized on x-ray, and after contrast administration, the excretory ducts of the salivary glands, gallbladder, and urinary bladder are visible, and calcium-free stones can also be recognized as recesses in the fluid. In the case of pancreatitis, the administration of contrast medium is not recommended, as it can exacerbate the inflammation. Fecal stones as a cause of appendicitis or intestinal obstruction are often discovered only during surgery, which is usually emergency; they cannot be seen on ultrasound.
What can be done about stones?
In addition to treating the pain and taking diagnostic measures to determine the amount and exact location of the stones, further treatment regimens will depend on the type of stones and extent of discomfort.
In the case of certain gallstones, dissolution with medication is attempted; otherwise, the stones are removed either through an endoscope or surgically along with the gallbladder.
Stones in the pancreas are also removed via an endoscope if possible – to make them drain better, the mouth of the bile duct into the intestine is enlarged.
Kidney stones can be dissolved with medication, crushed externally with a special shock wave therapy or removed with an endoscope as well as surgically. Fortunately, the latter is rarely necessary; many stones also leave the kidney tract on their own.
In the case of salivary stones, it is sometimes possible to massage them out, otherwise disintegration or surgery are used. If the salivary gland has to be removed completely, special attention is paid to the surrounding facial nerves.
Fecal stones in the rectum are dissolved with multiple enemas or removed manually; in the case of a higher bowel obstruction, surgery is the only option to avert the life-threatening situation.
How can stone disease be prevented?
“Drink a lot” is the best protection – against kidney stone, salivary stone and also gallstone: fluid intake before at least two liters per day should be natural for you. With higher outside temperatures, sporting activity or feverish illness, you should urgently adjust your drinking quantity. In the case of already known stone disease, a new disease can often be avoided by adjusting the diet – little cholesterol in the case of biliary disease, little meat in the case of a tendency to uric acid stones, stimulation of the salivary flow with chewing gum or citrus-containing foods are typical measures to prevent a new stone disease.
