Kidney Stones: Pathophysiology, Cutting-Edge Treatments, and Emerging Concerns

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Kidney stone disease (KSD) is a frequently observed clinical condition globally. It poses multiple diagnostic and therapeutic challenges especially in the case of asymptomatic stones when using standard ultrasonic or X-ray procedures. While CT scan options are available for diagnosis, they raise concerns due to excessive radiation exposure. Etiology of KSD is vast and covers disparate types of stones out of which calcium oxalate stones are the most prevalent ones. KSD is influenced by enormous factors ranging from age, gender and obesity to serious metabolic and genetic disorders. Different treatment protocols are available including medications, lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, PCNL and open surgery. Their pros and cons are discussed comprehensively throughout the review. Surgery is only opted for cases when the stone is either extremely large or highly complicated. KSD is a painful condition and most of its treatment options are costly, resulting in a significant financial burden. Despite the availability of advanced treatment protocols, the cases of KSD continue to rise, which is concerning. This suggests that the changing climate and environmental factors which are significantly raising global temperature along with dehydration, may play a role in increasing the prevalence of the disease. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of kidney stone disease, providing in-depth insights into stone types and their corresponding management strategies. Furthermore, this review also emphasizes the importance of lifestyle and dietary modifications, identifies constraints observed in the literature survey, and discusses the challenges facing healthcare providers, while also suggesting possible future research directions for emerging studies.