Is hydronephrosis serious?

Whether the condition of hydronephrosis is serious depends on the time and degree of hydronephrosis. If the hydronephrosis is formed in a short period of time, the hydronephrosis can be relieved by promptly removing the urinary tract obstruction factors and unblocking the urinary system, and it will not affect the renal function. However, if the hydronephrosis lasts for a long time, such as more than three months or the amount of hydronephrosis is large, it may cause squeezing effect on the renal tissue and even cause irreversible renal failure, which is a more serious condition.

What causes hydronephrosis?

The occurrence of hydronephrosis is mainly related to the poor excretion of urine. Any reason for urethral obstruction can cause hydronephrosis. The more common causes in clinical practice are hydronephrosis caused by kidney malformations, pelvic and ureteral malformations, ureteral stenosis, kidney stones, urinary retention and other reasons. In terms of treatment, it is necessary to assess the severity of the disease, identify the cause, and choose a targeted treatment plan. For some severe hydronephrosis, it is necessary to actively restore the patency of the urinary tract through surgery to prevent the occurrence of related complications such as kidney damage. It is also necessary to pay attention to regular follow-up examinations and monitor changes in the condition.

Symptoms of hydronephrosis

The onset of hydronephrosis may be very slow, and many people do not feel particularly uncomfortable in the early stages. It is only discovered after a mass is felt in the abdomen or hematuria occurs. In some cases of hydronephrosis, the onset is relatively rapid. For example, kidney stones quickly block the ureter, causing hydronephrosis. In this case, there may be symptoms of severe renal colic. The cause of hydronephrosis is often compression of the ureter by kidney stones or tumors. In addition to possible pain, some cases may be complicated by urinary tract infections, resulting in fever, back pain and other clinical manifestations; some cases may also cause hematuria.