Q: Whom should I consult for kidney stones during pregnancy?
A: You should see an urologist and also your obstetrician.
Q: Why kidney stones in pregnancy are difficult to diagnose?
A: The symptoms due to a kidney stone may resemble those caused by the normal changes occurring in a pregnant woman who does not have the stone. For example flank pain due to hydronephrosis (which occurs in normal pregnancy) mimics the pain of kidney stone. Sometimes, small blood vessels in kidney become friable during pregnancy and rupture, leading to blood in urine. This harmless condition (if the bleeding is mild) can cause confusion as stones lead to blood loss in the urine too. Further, the pain due to kidney stones mimics pain of premature labor or ectopic pregnancy. Hence, doctors need to have a high index of suspicion in diagnosing kidney stones.
Q: Can kidney stones in pregnancy cause complications?
A: The most dangerous complication of kidney stone happens when there is a combination of urinary tract obstruction and kidney infection. This leads to pyelonephritis, pus in the kidneys and sepsis (infection in the blood). Surgical drainage is indicated in this situation.
Kidney stones also can lead to kidney failure, especially if the patient has risk factors like mild-moderate kidney impairment, a single functioning kidney, a transplanted kidney or polycystic kidney disease.
Stones which do not pass out may cause premature labor and can interfere with the process of normal labor, leading to increased C-sections. There are also associated risks from the diagnostic and surgical procedures used for the stones.
