Nephroptosis (wandering kidney). What is a wandering kidney and how to treat this pathology Floating kidney

Nephroptosis is a urological disease that affects the urinary system, resulting in active mobility of the organ and its gradual prolapse. A wandering kidney (nephroptosis) is the first sign of urolithiasis, arterial hypertension, pyelonephritis, hepatic colic and other urological diseases. In this article we will tell you why a floating kidney is dangerous, we will analyze the symptoms of the pathology and treatment methods.

Characteristics of nephroptosis

There are acceptable standards for organ mobility; they allow the kidney to shift by 1-2 vertebrae during the process of breathing and changing posture. If this norm exceeds the permissible value, nephroptosis or kidney mobility is established. Pathology can occur in two ways:

• fixed nephroptosis- a characteristic feature is the prolapse of the organ and its strong fixation;
• - a characteristic feature is vertical displacement and constant movement of the organ from side to side.

For information! The pathology “walking kidney” is quite complex and has various complications.

According to statistics, women suffer from this disease more often than men, this is caused by a peculiarity of the anatomical structure. As a rule, the disease manifests itself in adulthood. Displacement of the right kidney occurs more often than the left; this is due to a physiological feature and the underdeveloped fixation apparatus of the organ.

For information! Only 10% of nephroptosis is bilateral.

It is worth noting that fixation of the kidneys in a certain place occurs subject to such factors as:

• presence of renal fascia;
• support of the renal bed, consisting of the quadratus lumbar and psoas muscles;
• the renal vascular system, which provides interaction with the aorta and inferior vena cava.

Factors affecting kidney mobility

As already mentioned, the right kidney is most susceptible to mobility; in the process of its displacement, the connecting plates and the angle between them increase in size. This disorder is caused by a physiological feature of the structure of the organ. The main factors influencing the formation of kidney mobility include:

• predisposition, heredity to the formation of pathology;
• injuries, bruises, damage to kidney tissue;
• feeling of tension during bowel movements;
• physical exercises, jumping;
• long walking;
• constant and intense coughing attacks;
• low weight, reduction in body fat with sudden weight loss;
• weakened, stretched abdominal walls during the second and subsequent pregnancy;
• untrained muscle mass of the abdominal wall.

Symptoms of the disease

The main difficulty in identifying nephroptosis is the absence of characteristic and pronounced symptoms. As a rule, the development, course, variations and severity of the symptom complex are individual in each case. The most common symptoms include:

• fatigue, weakness, insomnia, frequent dizziness;
• constipation, diarrhea, feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, bloating, decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• frequent mood swings, hysteria, hypochondria, neuralgia of the femoral, regional and sciatic nerves;
• the presence of hematuria, increased and rapid heartbeat, sudden jumps in blood pressure;
• the formation of pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, pain similar to renal colic, heaviness in the affected side of the lower back, the presence of protein in urine is possible;
• pain in the kidney area, the main feature is the disappearance or reduction in the lying position.

For information! Increased mobility on the right affects the right side, on the left - the left side.

Stages of nephroptosis

There are three main stages of a prolapsed kidney, which are characterized by certain symptoms. Stages of nephroptosis:

• Stage 1 - it is characterized by the kidney extending to a third of the hypochondrium; this deviation is clearly palpable when inhaling, but when exhaling it returns to its original position;
• Stage 2 - accompanied by mobility of the organ, which is easily palpated in a standing position, due to its complete exit from the hypochondrium. In the supine position, the organ returns to its original position;
• Stage 3 - the kidney extends completely beyond the hypochondrium and shifts to the pelvic area, as a result of which the ureter bends, the renal-pelvic system expands and hypoxia and stagnation of urine develop.

Important! When the kidney walks, bending, stretching and twisting of the renal vessels occurs, this occurs due to the strong mobility of the organ around its stem.

Any disturbance of the vascular system of the kidneys causes urostasis, venous insufficiency, stagnation of urine, and also creates a favorable environment for the formation of infection of the urinary system.

Diagnostics

To confirm or refute the diagnosis of nephroptosis, the attending physician prescribes a comprehensive diagnosis and laboratory testing. The diagnostic complex consists of:

• anamnesis consisting of possible kidney injuries, hereditary predisposition, heavy physical work causing nephroptosis;
• thorough clarification of symptoms, in case of sudden weight loss, establishing a connection between pathology and changes in the patient’s health;
• palpation of the organ in a vertical and horizontal position, the kidney can be easily palpated;
• undergoing excretory urography, which allows you to determine the stage of the disease, structure, size, degree of displacement and severe kidney dysfunction;
• ultrasound examination, which helps determine the exact location of the organ and its structural changes;
• duplex diagnostics and angiography, which helps determine pathological disorders;
• Isotope renography allows us to identify the functional state.

For information! A survey x-ray allows you to exclude the possibility of prolapse or displacement of other abdominal organs.

You can learn more about diagnosing a prolapsed kidney from the video

Treatment methods

Drug treatment for nephroptosis is not provided, therefore, as a rule, drug relief of pathological complications is used.

For information! Early diagnosis of a wandering kidney allows the organ to be returned to its place using a special medical bandage.

The treatment method for nephroptosis consists of symptomatic, etiological and palliative methods.

Symptomatic method

The main task of the method is to eliminate individual symptoms that have arisen, namely:

• elimination of neuralgia with the help of anti-inflammatory drugs, multivitamins that contain vitamin B;
• elimination of infection in the urinary system using antimicrobial agents;
• the development and progression of pain is eliminated with the help of analgesics and antispasmodics.

Etiological method

Etiological treatment involves surgical intervention; it is carried out quite rarely and as a last resort, when none of the methods helps. During the operation, the doctor fixes the kidney using special fibers of the psoas muscle. In scientific language, this operation is called nephropexy.

For information! In modern medicine, laparoscopy is used as a surgical intervention.

Palliative method

The main objective of the technique is aimed at quickly eliminating pain, discomfort and suffering of the patient. The essence of the therapy is to constantly wear a medical bandage or corset, which tightly fixes the organ and prevents it from moving around.

For information! The disadvantage of a medical bandage is that wearing it for a long time weakens the abdominal and back muscles.

Additionally, a specialist may prescribe physical therapy and procedures in a sanatorium-resort setting. In any case, treatment and selection of medications are prescribed only after undergoing comprehensive diagnostics and laboratory testing.

Remember, successful therapy depends on timely diagnosis and its further prevention and exclusion of relapse of the pathology. An advanced form of renal pathology has a negative impact on the weight of the human body and causes irreversible disturbances in all important processes.

Nephroptosis is a pathology that is characterized by increased mobility of one or both kidneys.

Almost all internal organs have the ability to move slightly - this is how the ligaments provide shock-absorbing protection from injury.

The kidneys are no exception: when they move, they can move, but normally only within the ligament-fatty bed that determines their location in the human body. Kidney prolapse is an organ extending beyond the lumbar region, which can lead to disruption of its functions and serious complications.

The kidneys descend from the anatomical bed to the pelvic region for one reason: the inability of the ligamentous apparatus to hold the organs in their proper place.

Factors that can provoke ligament failure are, in most cases, acquired rather than congenital in nature:

• a significant reduction in the kidney capsule, consisting of adipose tissue, as a result of sudden loss of body weight (due to diet or disease);
• damage to the tissues surrounding the kidneys due to surgery or trauma;
• age-related weakening of the abdominal, pelvic, and lumbar muscles, usually accompanied by prolapse of other organs;
• in women - multiple pregnancies, bearing several fetuses at once;
• too high loads (heavy physical labor, lifting loads, professional sports);
• prolonged exposure to external factors (shaking, vibration).

Weakness of the ligamentous apparatus can be caused by a natural pathology: congenital underdevelopment of connective tissues due to a genetic defect.

According to statistics, nephroptosis often develops in people who are forced to spend most of their time in an upright position.

For example, representatives of professions who work “on their feet” - salespeople, hairdressers, teachers, etc. The right kidney is more prone to prolapse because it is anatomically lower than the left.

Kinds

Types of nephroptosis are divided according to the degree of kidney mobility and the severity of prolapse:

• limited or fixing nephroptosis - the kidney moves due to a decrease in the fat capsule, but within the limits that the ligament allows;
• wandering kidney syndrome - occurs when two conditions are combined: a decrease in fatty tissue around the organ and stretched ligaments.

The severity of nephroptosis is determined by 3 stages:

1. At the initial stage of development of the pathology, the kidney is palpated below the hypochondrium during inspiration and when the body moves from a horizontal to a vertical position. The prolapse is 2–4 cm.
2. The second degree is characterized by a drooping of 4–6 cm in an upright position; in a supine position, the organ returns to its place. At this stage, the ligaments are already significantly stretched, the symptoms of the disease become pronounced: pain appears, changes in tests, pressure increases.
3. The third stage of the disease - the kidney remains displaced to the pelvic region, regardless of body position. Pain is accompanied by infectious complications, functional failure and other dangerous conditions.

A wandering kidney is a disease that can have serious consequences if it is not treated when the first signs appear.

Clinical manifestations and symptoms

The severity of the symptoms of nephroptosis depends on the degree of kidney prolapse.

1. At the beginning of the disease, mild pain may appear, which goes away in a supine position. Discomfort is localized on the side of the affected kidney and can radiate to the abdominal wall.
2. The progression of the pathology is accompanied by intense pain. The kidney tissues are stretched, the vessels and ureters are bent, leading to disruption of blood supply and urine passage. Tests show proteinuria and elevated red blood cells.
3. Advanced nephroptosis manifests itself as constant severe pain that does not subside when changing position. Poor urine flow can cause renal colic; poor blood circulation provokes ischemic processes in the tissues of the organ.

A concomitant symptom of nephroptosis is arterial hypertension - the result of increased synthesis of the renal hormone renin.

Diagnosis of the disease is based on studying the patient’s medical history, external examination, and palpating the organs on both sides in a standing and lying position.

For an experienced doctor, this may be enough to establish nephroptosis. To confirm the suspicion, blood and urine tests are prescribed, an ultrasound of the kidneys is performed, and additional studies are performed (contrast urography, computed tomography and MRI).

One of the most common complications of nephroptosis is hydronephrosis. . Read about the causes of congenital and acquired dilatation of the renal pelvis.

Read about the expansion of the renal pelvis in the fetus. You will find out whether it is worth sounding the alarm and whether such a disease requires immediate treatment.

How dangerous is the disease?

Kidney prolapse requires medical attention at an early stage.

If therapy is not started in a timely manner, prolapse will progress and cause irreversible changes in the kidneys.

The most common complications associated with wandering kidney syndrome are associated with stagnation of urine due to impaired urodynamics:

• the development of cystitis and pyelonephritis, since stagnant urine is a breeding ground for bacterial expansion;
• crystallization of salts contained in urine in high concentrations, with further formation of stones and diagnosis of urolithiasis;
• hydronephrosis caused by the accumulation of fluid in the renal pelvis;
• death of the renal parenchyma caused by tissue ischemia due to kinking of the feeding vessels.

Any of these complications can result in kidney failure and organ loss. The patient's condition is constantly complicated by high blood pressure, which is difficult to correct with medications.

Nephroptosis of the 3rd degree in most cases is a direct road to disability with loss of ability to work and the need for transplantation.

Treatment tactics or what to do?

Kidney prolapse, diagnosed at stages 2–3, can no longer be cured with conservative methods. Surgery is recommended for such patients.

Surgical treatment

Direct indications for nephropexy surgery are the following symptoms:

• severe hypertension;
• excruciating pain syndrome;
• prolapse of the kidney below the fourth vertebra of the lumbar spine;
• bilateral nephroptosis complicated by infection;
• risk of developing hydronephrosis;
• the appearance of signs of functional failure.

Intervention on the kidneys when they prolapse is carried out using open access or laparoscopic method. The nephropexy operation involves moving the kidney to its “rightful” place, fixing the organ and its anatomical bed to prevent relapse. The kidney is “sutured” to the muscle tissue using absorbable sutures or surgical mesh.

The type, volume, and method of surgery are selected by the surgeon depending on the general condition of the patient, age, severity of the disease and concomitant pathologies.

Before the intervention, therapy is carried out aimed at normalizing blood pressure, eliminating inflammation and infections, and restoring the outflow of urine.

Conservative treatment

The initial stage of prolapse gives the patient a chance to avoid surgery by completely changing their lifestyle. Conservative treatment consists of a whole range of measures and includes:

• renal diet;
• therapeutic exercises;
• wearing a retainer;
• hydrotherapy;
• drug therapy;
• symptomatic therapy.

Nephroptosis, which occurred due to rapid weight loss, can be tried to be eliminated by increasing the volume of the anatomical bed due to fatty tissue, in other words, to gain weight again.

You should try to constantly maintain drooping buds in the correct position:

1. Take a horizontal position as often as possible.
2. Sleep with your legs and pelvis elevated above the level of your torso.
3. Do not get up in the morning until you put on a special corset.
4. Secure the lumbar region with a bandage.

The bandage must be purchased as directed and with the help of a doctor. Wearing a corset is recommended at the first stage of prolapse, when there are no significant problems with blood circulation and urodynamics, and there is no pain or adhesions in the abdominal cavity.

At the same time, long-term artificial lumbar support can lead to even greater weakening of the muscle corset. It is better to strengthen the pelvic floor, lower back, and abdomen, that is, the muscles responsible for holding the internal organs in a normal position, with the help of physical therapy.

Exercises for prolapsed kidneys

It is impossible to tone the abdominal and lower back muscles without physical exercise.

Regular performance of special gymnastics allows you to train the tissues on which the location of internal organs in the human body depends.

In addition, physical education helps normalize pressure in the abdominal cavity, which contributes to better fixation of the kidney in the ligamentous fatty bed.

One “but”: the patient’s health condition must allow him to perform a feasible load. Severe pain, signs of kidney failure, inflammation are contraindications to exercise. As a rule, gymnastics is prescribed to patients with the 1st degree of nephroptosis.

Exercises for prolapsed kidneys are done by the patient himself at home. It is enough to allocate 30 – 60 minutes a day for training: a half-hour lesson in one or two sessions a day.

1. Take your arms extended along the body to the sides and lower them back. When lifting, inhale; when relaxing, exhale. Repeat 6 times.
2. Raise your arms up, straight legs in turn, raise them to 45 - 90°. Do 5 lifts.
3. Perform the “Bicycle” exercise with legs from a lying position for 2 minutes.
4. Pull your knees to your chest, hug them with your arms and hold for up to a minute, 6 repetitions.
5. Place your palms under your head, bend your legs at the knees and lift them up. By contracting the muscles of the lower abs, push the pelvis up 5 times.
6. The position is the same, pull your bent legs towards your chest, touching your chin with your knees. Do 5 lifts.
7. Raise your legs straight up, do 5 rotations with a large amplitude.
8. Tightening your abdominal and thigh muscles, slowly sit down, then return to the starting position. 5 reps.
9. Raise your pelvis above the floor and perform 5 rocking motions on your back with your legs bent.

In addition to therapeutic exercises for nephroptosis, you can do other static complexes: yoga, Pilates, callanetics, but only with the permission of a doctor.

- this is what pregnant women need to know in order to avoid such a disease. You will learn how dangerous the disease is and how effective physiotherapy is.

It can happen to anyone - about the causes of caliectasis of the kidneys, as well as the symptoms of the disease and treatment methods.

Nutrition and diet

The diet for kidney prolapse is aimed at solving two problems: restoring the fatty tissue surrounding the internal organs and minimizing the load on the urinary system.

If kidney function is not impaired, the first problem is a priority.

Enhanced nutrition is prescribed to people who have lost weight due to a strict diet, fasting, or diseases such as anorexia. The diet is high in calories and contains a high level of fats and carbohydrates, which allows you to build up adipose tissue in a short time. Internal fat re-lines the renal bed and helps increase the elasticity of all adjacent tissues.

The presence of symptoms indicating pathological changes in the kidneys is a reason to adjust the therapeutic diet taking into account the concomitant disease.

As you know, if you have kidney problems, you should not consume a lot of protein, salt, or foods rich in purines, acids, and spicy substances.

You will have to give up fried, smoked, canned foods, reduce meat, fish, legumes and nightshades, broths, fatty cheeses, and vegetables containing oxalic acid in your diet. You need to consume more water, eat permitted vegetables and fruits, and drink fermented milk drinks. If the need to increase body weight remains, the diet should continue to be high in calories.

ethnoscience

It is not prohibited to treat kidney prolapse using traditional methods. The following recipes are suitable for this:

1. Wash the flax seeds, dry them, and fry them in a frying pan. Eat a handful 3 times a day. Can be replaced with pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
2. Brew summer cypress stems in a ratio of 1 part raw material to 3 parts boiling water. Leave for 12 hours, then take half a spoon four times a day.
3. Add crushed oat straw to water (1 kg of grass per 20 liters) and take a bath.
4. Prepare an infusion of flax seeds, rosehip flowers and echinacea. Brew with boiling water, after 15 minutes the medicine is ready. Drink like tea.
5. Mix 100 gr. honey with a spoon of butter and acorn coffee, add 4 yolks. Take a few teaspoons of the mixture before meals.

Remember that not a single folk method can return a drooping kidney to its place. The goals of “home” methods are to relieve unpleasant symptoms and generally strengthen the body.

Prevention

In most cases, prolapse of the right or left kidney is the result of excessive negative effects on the body. Measures to prevent nephroptosis include proper lifestyle:

• maintain a balanced diet and regimen;
• do physical education;
• give up strict diets and fasting;
• if you want to lose weight, do it gradually, combining healthy eating and exercise;
• avoid lifting heavy objects and heavy loads;
• protect yourself from injury;
• develop correct posture;
• wear a bandage during pregnancy.

These simple principles will help you prevent kidney prolapse.

Video on the topic

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

Introduction

The kidney is held at the physiological level by ligaments, fascia that form the renal bed, intra-abdominal pressure (created by the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall and the diaphragm), the fascial-fatty capsule of the kidney and the fatty tissue between the adrenal gland and the kidney.

According to statistics, nephroptosis is currently observed in 1.5% of women and 0.1% of men. The predominant age for this pathology is 25-40 years. Nephroptosis is observed predominantly on the right. This is explained by the fact that the left kidney has a stronger ligamentous apparatus and the fact that the right kidney is normally located lower than the left. In some cases, bilateral prolapse is noted ( ptosis) kidney.

Causes of kidney prolapse

• significant and rapid weight loss can lead to a decrease in the volume of the fatty capsule of the kidneys;
• hereditary predisposition to increased extensibility of connective tissue (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome);
• trauma to the lumbar region with damage to the ligamentous apparatus and the formation of a hematoma in the perinephric tissue;
• heavy physical activity and work with heavy lifting;
• infectious kidney diseases;
• excessive stretching of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall during pregnancy.

Stages of nephroptosis

• at stage 1 the drooping kidney is palpated during inspiration through the abdominal wall, and during exhalation the kidney again goes under the costal edge and cannot be palpated;
• at stage 2 nephroptosis, the kidney can be completely palpated below the hypochondrium when the patient is in an upright position, but in a supine position it goes back into the hypochondrium;
• at stage 3 the kidney completely (regardless of the position of the body) comes out of the hypochondrium and can even move into the pelvis.

Such vascular changes lead to impaired blood supply to the kidney tissue: hypoxia and increased venous pressure, impaired lymphatic drainage. Changes in hemo- and lymphodynamics create conditions for the development of chronic pyelonephritis (inflammation of the pelvis and kidney tissue).

In stage 3 nephroptosis, the ureter may be kinked, which will lead to impaired urine outflow and dilation of the renal pelvis. An inflammatory and then adhesive process can occur around the kidney (perinephritis). These adhesions will fix the kidney in a pathological position. As nephroptosis develops with disturbances in hemodynamics and urine outflow, clinical manifestations of nephroptosis appear.

Symptoms of kidney prolapse

As the prolapse of the kidney increases, the intensity and frequency of pain increases; diffuse abdominal pain may appear, radiating to the back. In stage II nephroptosis, protein and red blood cells appear in the urine due to hemodynamic disturbances in the kidney.

In stage III, the pain is constant and does not disappear in a horizontal position. This may reduce the patient's ability to work. Attacks of renal colic are also possible, when the pain becomes unbearable and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

At stage III of nephroptosis, there is a deterioration in appetite, impaired intestinal function, and signs of depression appear. The progression of the disease leads to the appearance of signs of pyelonephritis, increased blood pressure, and hydronephrosis may form (persistent, progressive expansion of the renal collecting system due to impaired urine outflow).

An increase in blood pressure is initially observed only when the patient is in an upright position (orthostatic hypertension). In some patients, fornical bleeding (bleeding that occurs during exercise) or symptoms of pyelonephritis are the first manifestations of nephroptosis.

Why is nephroptosis dangerous?

• Impaired urine outflow contributes to the development of an infectious process and the formation of calculi (stones) in the renal pelvis.
• A wandering kidney can cause spontaneous abortion.
• As the process progresses, nephroptosis will cause an increase in blood pressure, which also has very serious complications (strokes and myocardial infarction).

Diagnosis of nephroptosis

• interviewing the patient about complaints, past illnesses and injuries;
• examination of the patient with palpation (palpation) of the abdomen;
• X-ray examination (excretory urography and plain radiograph of the kidneys);
• Ultrasound of the kidneys (lying and standing);
• scintigraphy or radioisotope scanning clarifies the position of the kidneys;
• renography allows you to clarify the state of kidney function;
• Laboratory analysis of blood and urine allows us to identify and clarify the presence of complications of nephroptosis.

Nephroptosis during pregnancy

Abdominal pain increases with physical activity and decreases when lying down. In this case, nausea and loose stools may occur. Urinary syndrome is manifested by the appearance of red blood cells, white blood cells, protein and bacteria in the urine. Dysuric syndrome is manifested by urinary incontinence (at night and during the day).

Prevention of nephroptosis in childhood consists of proper physical education of the child, eliminating excessive stress (including psycho-emotional), ensuring a balanced diet and preventing childhood injuries.

Treatment of nephroptosis (prolapse of the kidney)

Conservative treatment

Drug therapy is used only to treat complications of nephroptosis (pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, arterial hypertension).

Sodium causes fluid retention in the body, which contributes to edema and increased blood pressure. Therefore, the consumption of table salt should also be limited.

Orthopedic treatment (bandage)
Wearing a bandage is very useful for nephroptosis. You should put on a bandage (or an orthopedic belt, or a corset) in the morning, while still lying in bed. The orthopedic bandage should be worn only when exhaling, otherwise wearing it will be useless. The bandage should be removed in the evening before going to bed.

Currently, there is a large selection of corsets, bandages, and orthopedic belts. Before purchasing any of them, you should consult a doctor, as there are a number of contraindications for their use. One of the contraindications is “fixed nephroptosis”.

Exercise therapy
Physical therapy and abdominal massage have an effect only in stage 1 of nephroptosis. Therapeutic exercises should be performed daily in the morning for 30 minutes. The exercises are performed while lying on your back. You can place a small cushion under your lower back.

1. The legs are slightly bent at the knees. Make 5-10 breathing movements using the diaphragm: when inhaling, stick your stomach out as much as possible, and when exhaling, pull it in as much as possible.
2. 5-8 rub. raise your straight legs alternately.
3. 6-8 rub. pull each leg bent at the knee towards your stomach.
4. Perform the “bicycle” exercise for 1-2 minutes.
5. Squeeze a small ball between your knees for 6-8 seconds. Repeat the exercise 4-5 times.
6. 5-10 rub. Raise both extended legs up as you inhale, and lower as you exhale.
7. Raise your legs straight up, knees and heels together. As you inhale, spread your legs apart, and as you exhale, cross your legs. Repeat the exercise 5-6 times.

When the kidneys prolapse, sedentary games and walks on level ground are allowed. Jumping, hanging, stretching and running are prohibited.

Spa treatment
For stage I nephroptosis, sanatorium-resort treatment is widely used, especially with the use of hydrotherapy - swimming, baths, drinking mineral water.

This treatment can be carried out in local sanatoriums, as well as at the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters (Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk, Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk) and in Truskavets (Ukraine).

Surgical treatment

The purpose of surgery is to fix the kidney (nephropexy) in its anatomical bed for a long time.

Currently, this operation is performed primarily by laparoscopy. It has a number of advantages: there is a lower risk of complications, the method is less traumatic, there is virtually no blood loss, and the patient’s recovery after surgery is easier.

Treatment with folk remedies

Recipes for preparing folk remedies:
1. It is recommended to eat sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and any nuts. Flax seeds can be irrigated with drinking water, sprinkled with powdered sugar and fried in a dry frying pan. Take 3-4 r. per day 1 tsp. (chewing thoroughly).
2. Take 2 tbsp. chopped stems of broom kochia, pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 12 hours, strain. Take 5 ml 3 times between meals. in a day.

Nephroptosis (prolapse of the kidney): causes, symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment - video

Treatment of nephroptosis (bandage, laparoscopy) - video

Do people with nephroptosis get drafted into the army?

Nephroptosis in the Schedule of Diseases is classified according to Article 72. The suitability category is determined depending on the degree of nephroptosis.

Conscripts with 1st degree nephroptosis are classified according to Article 72, paragraph “G” - fit for military service.

Examined with stage II nephroptosis. and with secondary pyelonephritis are classified according to Article 72, paragraph “B” and are exempted from military service, they are enlisted in the reserve.

Examination for kidney diseases is carried out on the basis of inpatient examination and treatment.

The kidney is an organ that has mobility. Normally, it can move, but not more than a few centimeters. Kidney prolapse is scientifically called nephroptosis. The pathology is characterized by an abnormal displacement of the organ during any movement of a person two or more vertebrae down. Prolapse of the right kidney is more common than the left one. There is also nephroptosis of the entire paired organ at the same time, but this phenomenon is extremely rare. In the article we will talk about kidney prolapse, symptoms and consequences, causes and methods of treating pathology.

A little anatomy

The fixation device is designed to hold the kidney in its normal position. It includes the following structures:

• Vessels. They play a minor role in fixation of the organ, because with nephroptosis they are able to lengthen.
• Fat capsule. It is a perinephric fatty tissue that performs fixing and protective functions.
• Fascial apparatus. The fascia is located outward from the fat capsule and consists of posterior and anterior layers. They grow together at the upper pole and form a suspensory ligament, which passes into the connective membrane covering the diaphragm. The fascial apparatus plays a minor role in fixation of the kidney.
• Abdominal ligaments. These are folds of the peritoneum covering the organ from the front. The splerenal-renal and pancreatic-renal ligaments fix the left kidney, the duodenal-renal and hepatorenal ligaments are designed to prevent prolapse of the right kidney. You will feel symptoms of nephroptosis if the abdominal ligaments begin to stretch.
• Kidney bed. Formed by the diaphragm, fascia, and muscles of the abdominal wall.

Causes of nephroptosis

The normal amplitude of kidney movement is two to five centimeters (often 3.5 centimeters). But there are certain pathological factors that weaken the fixing apparatus, as a result of which the mobility of the organ increases and the kidney prolapses.

In youth, nephroptosis can be caused by poor nutrition. Also, provoking factors can be incorrectly selected physical activity and excessive sports, leading to sudden changes in intra-abdominal pressure. Infectious diseases that occur chronically and are accompanied by weight loss can lead to depletion of the fat capsule that protects the organ from movement.

Kidney prolapse may also be associated with improper organization of work, characterized by long-term exposure of a person to vibration conditions. In addition, nephroptosis often develops as a result of injuries, especially after falls from a height, in which the integrity of the ligaments and fascia is disrupted. In this case, fixation of the kidney becomes untenable. Perinephric hematomas resulting from injury to the lumbar region or abdomen can also displace the organ.

Nephroptosis and pregnancy

Women who have already given birth are more likely to develop kidney prolapse than those who have not given birth. This is due to a sharp decrease in intra-abdominal pressure after pregnancy due to weakening of the abdominal muscles. As a result, the fixing apparatus is also weakened, and this is a factor predisposing to nephroptosis. The risk of pathology directly depends on the size of the abdomen during pregnancy, the degree of stretching of the anterior wall of the peritoneum, and the number of births experienced.

Kidney prolapse: symptoms

Patients often do not notice any signs of pathology, and it is usually discovered by chance during examination. Indeed, the clinical manifestations of nephroptosis if it occurs without disruption of hemo- and urodynamics are extremely scarce. The severity of symptoms mainly depends on the degree of prolapse. Based on the clinical manifestations and characteristics of the course of the pathology, three stages of nephroptosis are distinguished.

First stage

One third of the kidney becomes accessible for palpation. Its lower edge can be felt at the height of inhalation, and when exhaling it goes into the hypochondrium. This stage occurs without a pronounced clinical picture. If the organ descends seven centimeters or more, dull pain may occur, radiating to the lumbar region. Their occurrence is associated with stretching of the fascial capsule.

Second stage

Almost the entire organ emerges from under the costal arch. The kidney in a vertical position of the body becomes two-thirds accessible for palpation, but as before, when it assumes a horizontal position, it returns to the renal bed. As the degree of displacement increases, the symptoms also increase. The pain becomes more intense, reminiscent of renal colic. Unpleasant sensations arise both with a sudden change in body position and during physical activity. In addition, changes in the urine are observed: the level of red blood cells and protein increases, which indicates stagnation of blood in the kidney due to impaired venous outflow.

Third stage

The entire organ emerges from under the costal arch, descending down to the pelvis. The pain becomes constant and often spreads to the groin area. Nausea and vomiting may occur. At this time, complications are already developing, including hydronephrosis and arterial hypertension. Due to such complications, as well as due to long-term disruption of the blood supply, fornical bleeding may occur during urination. There is a risk of the patient developing psycho-emotional disorders: neurasthenia, insomnia, depression, attacks of dizziness, overexcitability, increased fatigue, decreased appetite.

Diagnosis of nephroptosis

In the early stages, as already mentioned, kidney prolapse is often detected by chance, although the patient may consult a doctor with complaints of periodic lower back pain. The main diagnostic method is urography (x-ray examination with contrast). It is carried out in horizontal and vertical positions. In this way, the degree of nephroptosis can be reliably determined. At a later stage of pathology, when red blood cells are already present in the urine, the most informative diagnostic method is veno- and arteriography (studies of the renal vessels). They are carried out in a vertical position. This method makes it possible to accurately determine how much blood circulation is impaired in the vessels of the organ.

Kidney prolapse: treatment

Nephroptosis can be treated conservatively and surgically. If you choose the first option, you will not be able to eliminate the pathology, but you can prevent unpleasant consequences. The patient should perform special exercises and eat vigorously (but at the same time properly).

The operation is prescribed only when there are severe pains and complications that prevent a person from moving and deprive him of his ability to work, such as renovascular hypertension, hydronephrotic transformation, pyelonephritis, fornical bleeding, progressive pyelectasia.

Conservative therapy

The first thing the doctor prescribes is to wear a bandage for prolapsed kidneys. If you start using it at an early stage of nephroptosis, you can protect yourself from the progression of the pathology and the development of complications. Only in a horizontal position while exhaling should you put on a bandage, do this after waking up, even before getting out of bed.

It is also necessary to perform special exercises when the kidney prolapses in order to strengthen the muscles of the anterior wall of the peritoneum. The most effective exercise is the “swallow”. Lie on your stomach on a hard surface and very slowly lift your legs together, arms and head outstretched. Lock this position and hold it for a while, and then slowly return to the starting position. Rest a little and repeat the exercise. You need to do at least fifteen to twenty repetitions, then lie on your stomach for a couple of minutes without moving, then turn on your back and rest for at least half an hour. At first you will feel pain in the kidney area, but it will decrease each time. But remember: what you are going to do must be agreed with your doctor.

ethnoscience

As you already understand, neither medication nor exercise can eliminate kidney prolapse. Treatment with folk remedies will also not return the organ to its place, but it can prevent and eliminate numerous complications.

• For nephroptosis, knotweed infusion should be used. Take it three times a day, one hundred grams, half an hour before meals.
• It’s worth trying this method: sprinkle a handful of flaxseed with water and sprinkle with half a teaspoon of powdered sugar, then fry it all a little in an ungreased frying pan. Chew the seeds like regular sunflower seeds whenever you want. It is also very useful to take sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and any nuts.
• Pour two tablespoons of kochia broom (herb) into a thermos, pour one and a half cups of boiling water and leave overnight. The next morning, strain the resulting infusion and drink fifty milligrams between meals.
• Using scissors, finely chop one kilogram of oat straw and add twenty liters of water. Boil for an hour over low heat, then cover and leave for another two hours. Use the resulting decoction warm in the mornings and evenings (every other day). Baths should be taken after basic water procedures have been completed. The infusion can be used several times.
• To improve immunity, take echinacea tincture, eleutherococcus extract, and multivitamins.

Surgery

As a result of the operation, the kidney is fixed, that is, its pathological mobility is eliminated. As already mentioned, nephroptosis is not always an indication for surgical intervention, but only in the presence of serious complications. Before the operation, as a rule, three days before the operation, the patient is recommended to sleep on a bed with the foot end slightly raised. This helps return the organ to its normal position and facilitates the process.

During surgery, the kidney is fixed to the muscles of the abdominal wall. There are several methods; the choice of a specific method is based on the clinical picture. After the operation, the patient should also lie on a bed with the leg end elevated. This is necessary for a faster and more successful recovery. This regimen should be followed for several days, after which the bed is returned to its normal position, and the patient is allowed to get up and walk.

Anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out for another two weeks after surgery. At this time, the patient should avoid sudden or prolonged straining during bowel movements. If necessary, you can use microenemas or mild laxatives. It should be noted that in almost all patients the operation is successful.

Consequences of nephroptosis

Kidney prolapse is a pathology that requires mandatory treatment. Otherwise, the likelihood of developing unwanted complications is extremely high. Nephroptosis provokes a violation of urinary outflow, which, in turn, leads to an increase in intravenous fluid. Even during the period when the pathology does not yet manifest itself, complications may already arise in the renal parenchyma.

When the normal outflow of urine from the kidney is disrupted, a dangerous disease develops - pyelonephritis. It can disrupt a person’s normal life, and sometimes the symptoms are so painful that emergency medical attention is required.

Kidney prolapse can cause hypertension, which increases the risk of stroke. Among other things, nephroptosis often leads to the formation of kidney stones. The pathology is dangerous for women in case of pregnancy: due to prolapse of the organ, spontaneous miscarriage can occur.

A wandering kidney is a pathology of the urinary system, which is characterized by excessive movement of the renal organ outside the anatomical bed.

Due to high mobility, the kidney can drop significantly downwards, reaching the pelvic area.

A mobile kidney is more characteristic of women due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the body. Elderly people are also susceptible to this pathology.

Causes

Both renal organs are naturally mobile, but their normal deviation from their usual place is no more than 1-2 cm.

If the displacement of the kidney exceeds this figure, doctors diagnose a pathology such as nephroptosis, a type of which is a wandering kidney.

Since the left kidney is located higher than the right, the mobility of the latter is slightly higher, so it is the right kidney that is more often diagnosed as wandering.

Doctors currently cannot say with absolute certainty what specific causes provoke this pathology.

However, along with this, certain factors are identified that favor the occurrence of pathological movements of the organ.

First of all, the kidney may become wandering due to weakening of the abdominal muscles, loss of elasticity of the fascia, or excessive depletion of the fat capsule.

Abdominal muscles can lose strength due to various circumstances. In particular, even difficult labor and multiple pregnancies favor relaxation of the abdominal wall.

The kidney capsule becomes depleted if the body loses excess weight too quickly. This situation happens when a person subjects himself to a strict diet or suffers a serious illness in the near future.

The kidney can also become wandering if the fascia has been torn; accordingly, nothing can hold the organ in one anatomical position.

This most often happens when a person finds himself in dangerous situations that result in serious injury.

Difficult working conditions, when you have to move or lift heavy weights, favor the occurrence of increased organ mobility.

Even a severe cough or intestinal constipation can trigger the appearance of a wandering kidney.

In rare cases, doctors consider such a pathology as pathological heredity, when the structure of the connective tissue undergoes serious changes.

Symptoms

If the kidney has become wandering, and its deviation from the natural bed is great, the patient will definitely notice this, since the pathology in this case is accompanied by certain symptoms.

Unfortunately, stage 1 nephroptosis is quite difficult to recognize and visually diagnose, since there are no obvious symptoms, the person simply does not worry about anything.

It is most often possible to identify a grade 1 vagus organ only by chance, when a person is sent for ultrasound diagnostics for other reasons.

However, each person is unique, so the body can perceive individual internal pathological processes differently.

As a result, a wandering kidney can be suspected based on the individual symptoms that appear. In particular, pain in the lumbar region indicates renal pathologies.

If pain is eliminated after changing body position, it is quite possible that the organ has become overly mobile and wandering. It is no secret that a wandering kidney can be returned to the renal bed, indeed occupying a horizontal position.

Symptoms of a wandering kidney can also include increased heartbeat, as well as an excessive increase in blood pressure.

In some cases, the vagus organ manages to affect the nerve endings, squeezing them, resulting in neuralgia, excessive irritability and hot temper.

Nephroptosis is also characterized by loss of appetite and intestinal disorders.

In addition, the patient feels a clear loss of strength, dizziness, and often experiences insomnia.

Complications

If you notice signs of a wandering kidney, it is important to immediately seek medical help.

Ignoring the symptoms of a wandering kidney can lead to disastrous results, since excessive mobility of the kidney can provoke some pathologies that are accompanied by serious danger.

In particular, the kidney in the process of movement can affect the ureter, causing its compression. In such cases, natural urination is disrupted.

Urine begins to accumulate in the kidney, negatively affecting its condition. Urine favors the development of pathogenic bacteria, so its increased concentration provokes infectious and inflammatory processes.

Also, a high concentration of urine provokes urolithiasis, which occurs due to the combination of grains of sand into stones, and subsequently into large conglomerates.

Impaired urination also favors the occurrence of such a dangerous disease as hydronephrosis.

Pyelonephritis may occur, followed by frequent attacks of renal colic.

When the diameter of the renal artery decreases, which happens when it is compressed or twisted, the patient begins to suffer from increased blood pressure, which is certainly followed by headaches.

The dangerous thing is that due to oxygen deficiency, hypertensive crises can occur.

The most serious and dangerous not only for health, but also for life, is kidney failure, which can also act as complications if there is inaction and complete ignorance of the signs of a wandering kidney.

Diagnostics

Identifying a wandering kidney helps not only the symptoms that the patient is ready to list at a doctor’s appointment, but also a visual examination with simultaneous palpation.

An experienced doctor can immediately identify a wandering kidney, but to clarify the diagnosis, he will still refer the patient for laboratory and instrumental diagnostics.

Measuring blood pressure in different positions can also identify the wandering kidney. In particular, blood pressure readings in horizontal and vertical positions may differ by 15–30 mm. Hg

When conducting a laboratory test of urine, the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, and protein is determined.

Doctors do not stop at the results of laboratory diagnostics; they necessarily refer the patient for an instrumental examination.

Ultrasound examination can identify the wandering kidney. During the diagnostic process, the location to which the renal organ is moved is determined.

Ultrasound diagnostics for this purpose are carried out only after the patient has been in an upright position for some time, and accompanied his actions with additional activity.

The wandering kidney can also be detected by X-ray examination, excretory urography, for which a special contrast agent is injected into a vein.

Angiography allows not only to detect kidney prolapse, but also to pay attention to the condition of the veins.

Radioisotope scanning and scintigraphy are also used as instrumental diagnostics.

Treatment

If the symptoms confirm a pathology such as nephroptosis, the doctor considers several treatment options.

Conservative techniques and surgical intervention can be used. The technique is selected depending on the degree of pathology detected in the patient.

At the initial stage of development of the wandering kidney, the doctor establishes only medical control, which provides for constant monitoring of the condition of not only the patient, but also the dynamics of the pathology.

If you put on a bandage in a vertical position, you can fix the organ in the wrong position; adhesions will increase the negative consequences of improper fixation.

Sanatorium-resort treatment is accompanied by high effectiveness.

Modern medicine successfully performs nephropexy, which makes it possible to artificially create conditions that support the kidney in the right place.

Nephropexy is performed laparoscopically, accompanied by minimal trauma.

Abdominal surgery has recently been performed extremely rarely, when there is no other option for surgical intervention.

So, nephroptosis poses some threat to the health of every person, but timely treatment can prevent any complications.