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ABOUT THE DOCTOR

Kevin Kronner, MD
Western Michigan Urological Associates
577 Michigan Ave.,
Ste. 201, Holland
(616) 392-1816

Avoiding Kidney Stones



To prevent the formation of kidney stones, Dr. Kronner advises to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily, and consider adding citrate and magnesium to your diet.
Anyone who has had a kidney stone will tell you they can't believe something so small could hurt so much.

"The classic symptom is severe pain in the abdomen or back that comes on suddenly," explains urologist Kevin Kronner, MD, with Western Michigan Urological Associates. "It is a contracting pain that becomes severe and then lets up. There may also be blood in the urine, nausea or vomiting, or a fever if there's an obstructing stone."

Kidney stones sometimes form when salt crystals in the urine bind together into hard stones. They can be the size of a grain of sand or a golf ball. Kidney stones can result from dehydration, urinary tract infections, excessive amounts of tea, coffee and soda pop, or family history.

According to the Kidney Foundation, about 1 million Americans between 20 and 40 are treated for kidney stones each year, with the majority of patients being men. And if you've had one kidney stone, you're 50 percent more likely to have another in the next seven years, adds Kronner.

Usually a simple X-ray can confirm if a stone is present. Your doctor might also test your urine or blood to determine the cause and treatment. Kronner says most stones are only 2 to 4 millimeters in size, and, thankfully, about 85 percent of those will eventually pass through the urine.

Sometimes, however, the location, size and hardness of a stone may require medical intervention. In these cases, the stone must be surgically removed or crushed into tiny fragments using extracorporeal (outside the body) shock wave lithotripsy so that the matter can pass through the urine.

To prevent the formation of kidney stones, Kronner advises to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily, and consider adding citrate and magnesium to your diet. "Citrate, which is found in orange juice and lemonade, increases the salts that 'police' the urinary system. Magnesium supplements also may help prevent stones from forming." Evidence also suggests that certain foods — spinach and leafy vegetables, nuts, tea and chocolate — may contribute to kidney stones and should be avoided for people with a family history of stones.

RELIEF ON THE WAY FOR KIDNEY STONE PATIENTS

Lakeshore-area patients are now able to receive a newer, non-invasive treatment for kidney stones that has just become available at Holland Hospital.

Under Michigan's Certificate of Need program, Holland Hospital and seven other facilities share access to a mobile shock-wave lithotripsy machine. The machine uses high-energy shock waves outside the body to break kidney stones into tiny fragments so they can pass through the urine.

"Moving the unit from hospital to hospital allows us to bring the technology to patients rather than having them drive long distances to reach it. This is a big convenience," says Kathy Shaneberger, Holland Hospital's director of Surgical Services.

The mobile lithotripsy unit is brought to hospitals by truck and rolled into a surgical suite that has been specially modified for that use. Technicians travel with the machine to ensure it is set up and functioning properly. The unit is available at Holland Hospital for two days a month, and patients are scheduled for the procedure through their physicians' offices.

Urologist Kevin Kronner, MD, with Western Michigan Urological Associates, says the use of lithotripsy to break up kidney stones is especially effective on stones up to 2.5 centimeters in size. (Larger stones may require laser surgery or the insertion of a stent to allow the stone to pass.)

"The procedure uses a shock-wave energy source outside the body that is amplified by water or gel," he explains. "Using an X-ray, we focus the energy on the stone. The shock wave crushes the stone into fragments that can then be passed through urination."

During the outpatient procedure, which takes about 60 to 90 minutes, patients receive a general or monitored anesthesia. Most patients go home the same day.

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