Abstract and Introduction
Urolithiasis is a condition that can cause significant morbidity among patients. Dietary manipulations traditionally advised include fluid, protein, oxalate, calcium, citrate, and sodium changes in the diet. Evidence-based practice guidelines suggest that there is not ample evidence to confidently recommend dietary changes, since inadequate studies have been done to quantify the risks of diet in stone formation. While fluid intake patterns have the weightiest evidence in the literature, not even fluid intake meets the guidelines for evidence-based practice. Health care providers should recognize that current patient education is largely based on intuition. It behooves us as clinicians to look critically at all our practices, review the available literature, and question what we believe we know. A summary of available literature is provided to guide the clinician in educating patients in reducing their risk of recurrent calcium oxalate stone disease.
Delivering care to patients with recurrent kidney stones presents unique challenges for nurses and health care providers. Patients who develop symptomatic urolithiasis may present with characteristic flank or groin pain, nausea and vomiting, dysuria, and hematuria, regardless of the presence of hydronephrosis or hydroureter. Those who have developed one stone are at approximately 50% risk for developing another within 5 to 7 years (Parmar, 2004). For patients who are unfortunate enough to have recurrent stones, quality of life may be affected significantly. Members of this population often become distressed in their search for relief of symptoms and will look to health care providers for assistance. This article is designed to guide health care providers in educating patients to reduce their risk of recurrent calcium oxalate stones.
Urol Nurs. 2007;27(2):113-122, 143. © 2007 Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates
Cite this: Dietary and Holistic Treatment of Recurrent Calcium Oxalate Kidney Stones - Medscape - Apr 01, 2007.
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