Emergency Visits For Women With Kidney Stones Are Increasing

From 2006 to 2009 the number of women visiting emergency rooms with new kidney stones rose on average 2.85% per year according to a study by Dr. Ghani, a urology fellow in the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Another study by Dr. Kirkali and her colleagues at the NIDDM showed that from 1992 to 2009 there was a increase in ED visits for men from 231 to 393 per 1000,000, a 70% increase, and from 127 to 289 per 100,000 women, a 128% increase. Men still are seen more often for kidney stones than women, but women are catching up. Dr. Ghani also found that percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is become more common in women was well. PCNL is a procedure where a tract is established through the back directly to the kidney, and is useful for larger stones or large collections of stones. It has become more common in recent years and is commonly done in my practice. It is an excellent way to clear large amounts of stone in one setting while keeping the risks relatively low.