A new invention created by a Toronto researcher could alter how kidney stones are treated, along with the disorder’s prognosis for patients. Dr. Monica Farcas, a surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, led the development of a kidney stone “vacuum,” which will help remove kidney stone bits that are left over after laser surgery and fail to pass through a patient’s urine. People with kidney stones may also experience nausea, vomiting or blood in their urine. While small kidney stones can pass through the urine without invasive treatment, larger stones may require surgery. The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality suggests that after an initial kidney stone diagnosis, patients have a 35 to 50 per cent chance of developing kidney stones again within five years.

Source: The Star March 29, 2023 03:01 UTC