From the Guidelines
Passing an 11mm kidney stone naturally is highly unlikely without medical intervention. According to the 2007 guideline for the management of ureteral calculi 1, observation with periodic evaluation is an option for initial treatment for ureteral stones less than 10 mm. However, since the stone in question is 11mm, it exceeds this size limit, suggesting that medical intervention is necessary.
Key Considerations
- Stones larger than 5-6mm typically require professional treatment as they are too large to pass through the ureter on their own.
- For an 11mm stone, procedures such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy are likely recommended rather than waiting for spontaneous passage.
- Pain management may include medications like ibuprofen (600-800mg every 6-8 hours) or prescription pain relievers such as tramadol or oxycodone if needed.
- Alpha-blockers like tamsulosin (0.4mg daily) might be prescribed to relax ureter muscles, but these are more effective for smaller stones.
- Drinking plenty of fluids (2-3 liters daily) remains important to help prevent further stone formation and aid in the passage of smaller fragments after treatment.
Potential Complications
- An 11mm stone can cause complications including severe pain, urinary tract infections, and kidney damage if left untreated, as it can block urine flow and potentially lead to kidney function impairment.
- Prompt medical attention is required rather than attempting home remedies or waiting for natural passage, given the size of the stone and the potential for serious complications.
From the Research
Passing a Kidney Stone at 11mm
- The ability to pass a kidney stone at 11mm is not directly addressed in the provided studies, but we can look at the general guidelines for stone size and treatment options.
- According to 2, flexible ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy is the gold standard surgical treatment for ureteral and kidney stones with a maximum diameter of 2 cm.
- However, 3 mentions that flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy can be used as a first-line option for kidney stones less than 20mm.
- It's worth noting that the size of the stone is an important factor in determining the treatment outcome, as mentioned in 3, where the size of the kidney stone was a significant factor in achieving a stone-free outcome.
- While there is no direct evidence on passing a 11mm kidney stone, it can be inferred that stones of this size may be treatable with ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy, but the likelihood of spontaneous passage is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- Studies 4 and 5 discuss the effectiveness of different treatment options for kidney stones, including shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, but do not provide information on the spontaneous passage of stones at 11mm.
- Study 6 discusses the use of semirigid and flexible ureteroscopy for the management of renal pelvic stones, but does not provide information on the spontaneous passage of stones at 11mm.