What is renal colic?

Article written by MSc Vu Ngoc Thang - General Surgery Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

There are many causes of acute renal colic (in the lumen of the excretory tract, the wall of the excretory tract and the cause of extrinsic compression). Ureteral stones are the most common, accounting for 80% of cases. In addition, people also experience renal colic due to blood clot, ureteral tumor, inflammation, tuberculosis, ureteral stricture, retroperitoneal tumor, compression of the pelvis ...[1, 2].
This syndrome is very common, in France every year with 2 million people suffering from urinary stones, up to 10% in men, 5% in women have renal colic. In the United States, every year from 7 to 21 cases per 100,000 people have renal colic. In Vietnam, 1-2% of patients come because of renal colic.

2.1. Typical type Pain occurs suddenly on one side from the fossa - below the ribs down along the external genitalia, even spreading to the front of the thigh. No fever. Struggling, agitated, rolling (pain does not decrease when changing positions). Less urination, burning sensation when urinating. Urine may contain blood (microscopic, gross). Vomiting, nausea. Favorable factors: dehydration, after working hard, after sports activities, moving... Pain responds to pain relief treatment 2.2. Complex form Renal colic in pregnant women, chronic renal failure, single kidney, kidney transplant, kidney with known disease (infective pyelonephritis...), no urine, perforation urinary tract... Fever > 38°C. The pain is not relieved by pain medication.

2.3. Diagnosis of the cause Mainly based on imaging techniques: should do ultrasound, unprepared HTN and computed tomography without contrast injection.
Ultrasound : This is the method of first choice. Intended purpose for diagnosis. Computed tomography has multi-faceted reconstruction, which can overcome the limitations of ultrasound and urography. With stones, CT scanner without contrast: This technique has a sensitivity of 96 - 100% of cases [3,4,5]. Other techniques such as intravenous urography (UIV), retrograde ureterography (UPR), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are rarely used in renal colic. . In general, depending on the case, we can use only 1-2 techniques to diagnose. Additional tests: Urinalysis for bacteria (ECBU), red blood cells, urine culture, blood culture if high fever is present. Blood tests to evaluate kidney function (creatinine, urea...)

Vinmec Times City International General Hospital is the first unit in Vietnam to apply the very modern technique of screening for early kidney failure by urine test. Patients can come to collect urine at any time of the day and results are available in just 30 minutes.
Vinmec owns a system of modern equipment and machinery, which helps the assessment of kidney function most effectively, quickly and accurately. A team of professional, well-trained doctors and nurses who understand the testing process, modern technology, how to operate machines, improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Urine test technique to screen for early kidney failure is applied in the following cases:
Renal failure screening for health examination program or mass screening if the doctor or patient has suspicion of kidney function. Screening for kidney failure in patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. Patients with kidney diseases: acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis, polycystic kidney, horseshoe kidney, Monitor patients before and after kidney transplantation. The patient is in the intensive care unit. Undergoing surgery Patient with sepsis. Indicated to take X-rays with the use of iodinated contrast agents...