At 61 years old, Chrissi Anderson certainly did not expect such a discovery… This resident of Omaha, Nebraska, went to the emergency room after a night marked by excruciating pain in her lower back, on the right side. For doctors, there is little doubt: it is perforated appendicitis. But the emergency scan also revealed another anomaly: a huge kidney stone occupying almost the entire right kidney.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was huge, with horns, it was like a monster.”she says on Today.
The stone had a branched shape reminiscent of deer antlers, hence its medical name: a coralliform stone, or “antler stone”.
A giant calculation developed in silence
The most surprising thing about this matter, especially when you see the photo, is undoubtedly the almost total absence of symptoms. Chrissi Anderson had never suffered from renal colic, the shooting pain typical of kidney stones.
His urologist, Euclid de Souza, explains why on the hospital site: Small stones are often the most painful, because they move into the urinary tract and block the flow of urine. Coral stones usually get stuck in the kidney and slowly grow for years.
“The problem with stag horn stones is that they are very quiet because they are big and they can’t move,” explains the specialist.
In the case of the sixty-year-old, the stone occupied almost the entire kidney. According to doctors, it must have been developing for a long time.
The stone measured approximately 7.5 centimeters in diameter for the main part, with additional branches of the same size. Its weight was estimated at nearly 450 grams, an exceptional mass when we know that most kidney stones removed measure only a few millimeters.
Without the accidental discovery related to her appendicitis, the patient would likely have ended up losing her kidney.
A delicate operation
After treating the infection caused by appendicitis, the surgeons scheduled the operation. The stone was so large that it could not be removed in one piece.
On March 17, the medical team performed robotic surgery to fragment and then extract the different parts of the stone. In particular, doctors use a device capable of breaking the stone before its extraction.
Today, Chrissi is gradually recovering but feels lighter, both literally and figuratively. Some chronic pain that she previously attributed to her fibromyalgia even disappeared after the operation. His right kidney remains weakened, but it is partially functioning again. As for the “monster” itself, Chrissi plans to preserve it in part, in resin…
Kidney stones: a common disease
Although the case of this American woman is spectacular, kidney stones remain an extremely common condition. It is estimated that around one in ten people will suffer from a kidney stone in their lifetime.
A kidney stone is a mineral concretion formed in the cavities of the kidney when certain substances present in the urine crystallize and gradually clump together. These “stones” can be composed of calcium – the most common case – but also of uric acid, struvite or more rarely cystine.
Most stones remain small. But some, like coral stones, can grow slowly and take on an impressive branched shape.
Why do kidney stones appear?
Several factors favor their formation.
The main one remains the lack of hydration. When you don’t drink enough, your urine becomes more concentrated, which makes it easier for mineral salts to crystallize. Extreme heat, certain physical occupations or even intensive sports practice increase this risk of dehydration.
Diet also plays an important role. Excessive consumption of salt, animal proteins or very rich products can promote stones. Conversely, insufficient calcium intake can also increase the risk.
Repeated urinary infections are particularly involved in coral stones, more common in women than in men.
What are the symptoms to be aware of?
Many calculations go completely unnoticed for a long time. Some patients live with it without knowing it.
Symptoms mainly appear when the stone migrates into the urinary tract. The pain then becomes extremely intense: it is the famous renal colic. It often occurs in the lower back or side, with pain so severe that it is sometimes impossible to find a comfortable position.
Other signs can alert:
- Blood in the urine;
- Urinary burns;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- A urinary infection;
- Fever, which is a sign of medical emergency;
- More rarely, a total absence of urine.
Can kidney stones be prevented?
Fortunately, you may also never experience the feeling left by a kidney stone. Prevention is mainly based on a few simple habits. The first rule is to drink enough: at least 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, more in hot weather. Clear urine is generally a good sign of hydration.
Specialists also recommend:
- To limit salt;
- Avoid excess animal proteins;
- To favor fruits and vegetables;
- To have regular physical activity;
- To maintain a stable weight.
People who have already had a stone, however, must often adapt their diet according to the exact composition of the stone analyzed in the laboratory.
Because even after a spectacular operation like that undergone by Chrissi Anderson, the risk of recurrence remains very real.