According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), approximately 30 percent of people 70 and older have a kidney cyst. These non-cancerous cysts consist of water-filled sacs in the kidneys. They are detected by CT scans, and usually do not cause symptoms unless they grow so large that they put pressure on other organs. As a result, you may feel pain in your back, hips or stomach that is accompanied with a fever. At this point, a urologist either drains the cysts or surgically remove them.
Drainage
If you feel pain as a result of a kidney cyst moderate in size, your urologist may drain the cyst. With the help of an ultrasound machine, he inserts a long needle through your skin into the cyst. Then he draws out the watery fluid and inserts an alcohol solution in its place. The tissues surrounding the cyst harden, making conditions unfavorable for further growth.
Surgery
Surgery is recommended for patients whose cysts are of considerable size. Once removed, the pain stops. According to Cedars-Sinai Health System, there are three forms of surgery offered for kidney cysts: laparoscopy and cyst removal, percutaneous kidney surgery and retrograde inrarenal surgery.
A laparoscopy and cyst removal procedure is for numerous cysts that are large enough to press on other organs. This is primarily an outpatient procedure. A surgeon makes three incisions into your stomach and draws out the cysts will needles
Percutaneous kidney surgery is recommended if you have large cysts located on the back of your kidneys. With the help of an X-ray, the urologist makes an incision in your skin over the kidney and places a sleeve between the two. Then he uses endoscopic tools to open the cysts and remove them. This procedure is more extensive, and you likely will be hospitalized overnight.
Retrograde intratenal surgery is used if your cysts are in a position that they can be drained by a laser. Once the laser cuts and drains the kidney cyst, the surgeon will place a tube, called a stent, in the ureter. The stent stays in for two weeks until you go back to the doctor for its removal.
Prevention
CT scans are used to monitor kidney cysts that are small and do not cause any pain. Your doctor may not recommend treatment unless you experience any symptoms from the cysts. Also, once you have undergone treatment, your doctor might check your kidneys every six to twelve months, according to familydoctor.org. You will be monitored if a CT scan reveals that your kidney cysts have dense tissues, or if they contain chunks of stone-like pieces.
Tags: kidney cyst, kidney cysts, cyst removal, cysts that, feel pain, kidney surgery
