Patient's question:
Doctor, hello. I heard that many people tend to get stones as they get older. However, stones come in many types, and I have both. One is obstructive gallstones, and the other is urinary system stones. I have been very careful with my daily life, but I don’t know how I ended up getting these. I would like to ask the doctor about the differences between these two types of stones.Doctor's answer:
Hello, this is not obstructive cholelithiasis. In fact, the term "obstructive cholelithiasis" is not accurate at all. It should be said that stones cause biliary tract obstruction. Biliary tract obstruction should have certain clinical manifestations, the most typical of which are jaundice, abnormal liver function, and dilatation of the bile ducts above the obstruction site.Ureteral stones, also known as urolithiasis, refer to stones formed within the lumina of the urinary system and are the most common urological disease in China. Based on the location of the stones, they are divided into two major categories: upper urinary tract stones and lower urinary tract stones. The former includes kidney stones and ureteral stones, while the latter includes bladder stones and urethral stones. Most cases encountered during physical examinations are of the former type.
In addition to causing damage to renal tissue, ureteral mucosa, or bladder mucosa, ureteral stones primarily affect the body by causing varying degrees of obstruction in the urinary tract. In severe cases, they can lead to hydronephrosis, which in turn can affect renal function to varying degrees, even resulting in complete loss of renal function.
Furthermore, after urinary tract obstruction, due to the accumulation of urine above the obstruction site, urine stagnation can easily lead to infection. Infection can then further exacerbate stone growth and damage to renal parenchyma. Any ureteral stones combined with obstruction should be treated with active surgical intervention upon diagnosis. Therefore, individuals with current conditions should be considered (unqualified) based on physical examination results.