A water kidney is also called sac kidney, renal engorgement or hydronephrosis. This is a result of an underlying condition. When the urinary tract is narrowed or closed, urine can accumulate in the renal calyx and renal pelvis. A blockage can be congenital, often this concerns the area between the renal pelvis and the ureter. But a large prostate can also compress the urinary tract. Kidney stones are also a common cause. Symptoms include a burning or painful sensation when urinating or inflammation. other symptoms may also arise. Treatment is sometimes necessary because dilation of the kidney can lead to damage to kidney tissue. This can cause kidney function to deteriorate.
Water kidney or sac kidney
The name pocket kidney is used less often, but we hear it more often. Another name is also hydronephrosis or kidney congestion. This is a condition that affects the renal pelvis and the renal calyx. The renal pelvis is funnel-shaped and runs from the renal tissue to the ureter. The renal calyx is a cavity in the kidney where urine is collected. Humans have two kidneys.
What exactly happens with a water kidney?
In a water kidney, the renal calyx and renal pelvis are dilated in a pathological manner. This can cause kidney tissue to be lost. A water kidney is not a cause but a consequence of an underlying condition. It can occur in one or both kidneys. When both kidneys are affected, we speak of bilateral hydronephrosis.
Causes
A water kidney often develops as a result of a congenital narrowing at the transition from the renal pelvis to the ureter. One can imagine that the urine then has a difficult passage and the urine collects in the renal pelvis. Another cause seen in men is an enlargement of the prostate. This mainly occurs in older men.
Kidney stones or stones elsewhere in the urinary tract can also cause a blockage. The presence of certain salts can cause kidney stones. This is often in combination with drinking too little or sweating a lot. Certain medications can also cause kidney stones. A diet high in protein also causes kidney stones. Kidney stones block the urinary tract, especially as they grow larger.
Infections of the urinary tract can also cause blockage. This is often accompanied by pain complaints. An infection is usually caused by a bacteria. Another cause is a tumor located in the urinary tract. The tumor continues to grow and eventually blocks the urinary tract or drainage tubes. This may be a benign or malignant tumor.
Symptoms
The blockage is often noticed first. This may be accompanied by a less powerful urine stream, an interrupted urine stream, frequent urination and small amounts of urination. Pain during urination also occurs. In addition, new urges often arise shortly after urination. It then seems as if the bladder is not empty. Sometimes there is blood in the urine, this is mainly seen with kidney stones or a tumor.
Because the urine collects in the renal pelvis or in the renal calyx, it expands. There is often a non-stinging dull pain around the pelvis. Drinking a lot worsens these complaints. This also makes sense, because when you drink a lot, more fluid is collected in the renal pelvis. After urinating, the complaints often disappear somewhat. The dilated kidney can become infected. This is then called a pus. This is accompanied by blood loss, pain and swelling in the loins. Fever to very high fever can develop. Sometimes high blood pressure develops. We mainly see this in teenagers and young people.
If both kidneys are affected, a lot of kidney tissue can be damaged. This can lead to renal insufficiency. This causes kidney function to deteriorate. This in turn can lead to uremia. This causes urea to build up in the blood. Urea is a breakdown product resulting from the combustion of proteins in the liver. Normally the kidneys filter urea from the blood and only release some of it back into the blood. The rest is excreted through the urine.
Therapy
Treatment is not always necessary. If the symptoms and complaints are not too bad, a wait-and-see attitude is often adopted. The underlying cause can be treated. For example, kidney stones can be crushed with the help of medication or surgery. Antibiotics are used in case of an infection. Treatment is certainly necessary for serious complaints. Sometimes angioplasty is necessary to remove the closure.
Sometimes it is necessary to remove the blocked part of the renal pelvis or the renal calyx. A diversion will then be made. When the kidney tissue is seriously damaged, it is sometimes necessary to remove the entire kidney. If this is the case with both kidneys, kidney dialysis will be necessary. Kidney dialysis takes over the function of the kidneys. The kidneys are important organs because they rid the body of waste products. Without proper functioning of the kidneys, the body would poison itself.
