Renal ectasia, also known as pyelocalyceal expansion or dilated kidney, is characterized by the expansion of the internal part of the kidney, this region is known as the renal pelvis, which is shaped like a joint and has the function of collecting urine in the renal cups and leading to the ureters and bladder, as well as the figure.
This dilation is usually caused by increased pressure in the urinary tract by urinary tract obstruction, which can be caused by deformities of urinary tract structures, which is more common in children, by other situations such as the presence of kidney. stones, cysts, tumors or a severe infection of the kidneys, can also occur in adults. This change doesn’t always cause symptoms, but there may be abdominal pain or changes in the orin.
- Pielocalicial dilation.
- Which can also be called hydronephrosis.
- Could be diagnosed by imaging tests such as ultrasound.
- Which could indicate the degree of dilation.
- Kidney size.
- And size that would cause tooth compression.
- Renal ectasia is most often found on the right side.
- However.
- It can also occur in the kidney.
- Even in the kidneys.
- Being bilateral.
- Learn more about hydronephrosis and its main symptoms.
There are several causes of urine obstruction by the pielocalicial system, and the main ones are:
The causes of renal cup expansion in newborns, as well as in the most obvious cases, in most cases, tend to disappear after the baby is born, however, there are cases caused by anatomical deformities of the baby’s urinary tract. , which are more serious situations.
The expansion of kidney glass in adults usually occurs as a result of cysts, stones, nodules, tumors, kidney cancers or ureters, causing the orine tube to become blocked causing it to build up, and consequently dilate the renal pelvis.
Renal ectasia can be diagnosed by ultrasound of the renal system; In some cases, dilation can be detected in the baby while still in the mother’s uterus, during prenatal checkup ultrasounds, but usually after the baby is born.
Other tests that may be indicated to assess the situation in excretory urography, urinary urterography, or renal scan, which could further evaluate the anatomy and how urine flows through the urinary tract.
Treatment of renal ectasia in newborns depends on the size of the expansion, when the dilation is less than 10 mm, the baby only needs several ultrasounds for the pediatrician to follow its evolution, as dilation usually tends to go away.
When the expansion is greater than 10 mm, treatment is done with antibiotics prescribed by the pediatrician, in the most severe cases where the expansion is greater than 15 mm surgery is performed to correct the cause of the expansion.
In adults, treatment of renal ectasia is done with medications prescribed by the urologist or nephrologist, and surgery may be needed, depending on the cause of the dilation.
In the event that this situation at sea could cause permanent kidney damage and renal failure, in addition to the appearance of repeated urinary tract infections and pielonephritis, despite the situation.