Right Ureteric Colic

Right ureteric colic is a medical condition related to the ureter found inside the human body. As part of the urinary tract, the ureter is an important passageway that connects important organs within the body. The condition is caused by the blockage of this tube by hard stones formed in the kidney. Severe pain and tenderness are the most common symptoms. Treatment varies on the size and location of the problem.

Identification

• Right ureteric colic refers to a medical issue that causes severe abdominal pain. Your ureter is the tube that connects the kidney to the urinary bladder. Since there are two kidneys in the human body, the right ureter is connected to the right kidney and enters the bladder on the right side. Colic is defined as the constriction of a tube within the body. So, right ureteric colic is the constriction of the ureter on the right side of the body.

Causes

• The most common cause of right ureteric colic is the presence of ureteral calculi or kidney stones. These stones form in the kidney and pass down the ureter on their way out of the body. Since this tube varies in size, the stones can become lodged along the way, causing the severe pain associated with this disorder. Often the ureter responds by constricting, making the problem worse.

Symptoms

• Right ureteric colic always causes severe abdominal pain. In addition to mild shock, the pain can cause victims to assume a fetal position. Tenderness can be felt in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, the area to the right and below your navel. The tender location can vary slightly, since a stone can be lodged anywhere along the length of the ureter. Pain in this region of the body should not be immediately attributed to this problem, but all issues should be examined by a doctor.

Treatment

• Many procedures exist for treating this disorder. Very small stones may be expelled via the urine stream without medical intervention. Consuming extra fluids helps by accelerating the urinary tract. Moderate-sized stones can be encouraged to pass using techniques to relax the muscles around the stone. Very large stones may warrant the use of ureteroscopy, a process that involves inserting an instrument into the ureter and physically removing the stone. Rarely, surgery is needed because the stones cannot fit through the remainder of the urinary tract.

Long-term Effects

• Ureteric colic appears to have little long-lasting effect on the urinary tract or overall health of the victim. Repeated bouts may be due to diet and some patients resort to changes in food choices to help prevent recurrence.