Hydronephrosis requires surgery when you have a blockage in the urinary tract, declining kidney function, or severe swelling in the kidneys that does not improve with medication or conservative treatments.

When Does Hydronephrosis Need Surgery?

Hydronephrosis refers to swollen or enlarged kidneys. Normally, urine flows through the ureters to the bladder until it exits your body when you urinate. Hydronephrosis occurs when the urine builds up in your kidneys instead of flowing freely.

Any blockage in your urinary tract can prevent urine drainage, which, in turn, increases pressure in the kidneys, causing them to stretch and become swollen. This leads to the question: which hydronephrosis treatment in Navi Mumbai is generally recommended, whether surgery is necessary, and how can swelling in the kidneys go down?

Does Hydronephrosis Require Surgery?

Not always. It depends on the underlying cause of hydronephrosis. Kidney swelling itself isn’t a disease, but a symptom of an underlying condition, such as kidney stones, enlarged prostate, structural abnormality, or narrowing of the urinary tract. Let’s see when a urologist in Navi Mumbaimay consider surgery for hydronephrosis.

Blockage in the Urinary Tract

Persistent blockages in your urinary tract can put pressure on the kidneys and might eventually damage the filtering units. Common causes of the blockage include:

• Kidney stones getting lodged in the ureters, thus preventing urinary flow from the kidney to the bladder
• Narrowing of the renal pelvis, a portion where the kidneys connect to the ureters
• Abnormal growth in the kidneys that may press on the surrounding tissues
• Scar tissue formation that restricts the urinary passage or blocks the ureters or Ureteropelvic Junction (UPJ)

Now, not all urinary blockages automatically require surgical intervention. Surgery may be more appropriate if you have persistent blockage or underlying causes that can cause repetitive or severe blockages.

For example, a small kidney stone might pass on its own through urine. Larger stones, however, carry a higher risk of getting stuck in the ureters and blocking the urine flow. This may require ureteroscopy, a surgery to locate, break down, and remove the stones.

Your Kidney Function is Declining

If urine stays lodged in the ureters for a long period and causes significant swelling, your kidney function may start to decline. A urologist may order serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to check how well your kidneys are functioning based on the creatinine levels in your blood.

Sometimes, a nuclear renal scan is needed to get a detailed picture of both kidneys and their function separately. This helps your doctor identify blockages in a single kidney or declining function. If the kidneys’ function is compromised, a urologist may recommend surgery to relieve obstruction.

When the Swelling Gets Worse

Hydronephrosis is classified into mild, moderate, and severe stages based on your ultrasound scans. Severe swelling doesn’t automatically mean surgery is needed. Likewise, mild swelling doesn’t rule out surgical intervention.

Many factors collectively determine whether conservative treatments are sufficient or you need an invasive procedure. If the scan shows worsening hydronephrosis, rapid kidney function decline, or significant impairment of urine drainage, a surgery may be an appropriate treatment choice.

Sometimes, the underlying cause of hydronephrosis can be treated with medication and other non-surgical treatments. In some cases, the condition may resolve on its own without requiring treatment. For example, hydronephrosis in a pregnant woman may resolve after delivery, as hormonal shifts contributing to urinary issues might improve.