Genetic influences play a major role in kidney stone formation, especially for recurrent stone formers. A recent study published in Nature Reviews Urology highlighted that 30% of chronic kidney stone patients develop stones as a result of their monogenetic disorders!
Currently, the genetic drivers of this disease remain unknown. However, with the rapid advancements in genomic studies, urologists can look forward to novel diagnoses and treatment measures for kidney stones in the near future.
Many kidney stone patients rely on opioids to ease stent pain, but a new study published in the AUA Journals suggests that they may not be effective at relieving post-operative pain!
Researchers used a PROMIS assessment to determine the effectiveness of opioids in easing stent pain. Surprisingly, patients on opioids experienced the same level of pain intensity and interference as those who were not.
With the U.S. surpassing 100,000 drug-related deaths in 20201, many urologists are exploring alternative pain management protocols to avoid prescribing opioids. Advise patients to opt for opioid-free treatments, they are safer and more effective!
Despite rapid advancements in kidney stone treatments, stone recurrence rates remain high. Assts Prof Kyle Wood, M.D., attributes this phenomenon to urologists’ low levels of compliance with treatment guidelines.
“We’re very good at surgically treating stones,” Asst. Prof Wood, M.D., said. “But we’ve done a pretty poor job as a practice at managing kidney stones. I think the biggest issue is we haven’t even followed our guidelines.”
Potassium citrate is usually only prescribed to patients with Renal Tubular Acidosis, who are at higher risk of forming kidney stones. However, many patients in our community have been self-medicating with potassium pills, in hopes of reaping similar benefits.
Without medical advice, patients may be putting themselves at risk of hyperkalemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. Advise your patients to obtain potassium from natural sources such as banana and cantaloupe instead*!
Complete kidney stone clearance is the target outcome for most urologists. However, recent studies suggest that this may not align with some patients’ expectations!
According to Dr Necole M. Streeper, urologists may be overtreating patients to meet stone-free targets. This is causing frustration among patients who prefer to leave asymptomatic stones untreated, rather than undergo repeated surgeries.
Utilizing surveys like WISQOL and SF-36 to gauge patients’ quality of life can help urologists better understand their patients’ goals and set more accurate outcome targets.
Read more here: Should Asymptomatic Renal Stones Be Surgically Treated? Pro-Observation
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