Renal ptosis is a rare condition where a kidney is not properly fixed in place in the abdomen. It is more common in thin young adults, and symptoms include pain and discomfort. Surgery can fix the kidney to the abdominal wall.
Renal ptosis is a rare condition in which one of the kidneys is not properly fixed in place in the abdomen. It assumes its normal position when lying down, but falls straight down when standing. Most cases of renal ptosis are asymptomatic; people never have any health problems or discomfort. In some cases, however, moving the kidney can lead to significant pain, vomiting, chills, and other symptoms. A surgical procedure called nephropexy can be done in a symptomatic case to permanently fix the kidney to the abdominal wall.
The causes of this condition are unknown, but doctors have identified some important risk factors for developing the condition. Renal ptosis is more likely to affect women than men and is more common among very thin young adults. People who lose significant amounts of weight very quickly are also at a higher risk. Many doctors believe that the problem is related to a lack of supporting muscles and fatty tissue in the lower abdomen.
The degree of kidney displacement in disease is relatively small, usually no more than 2 inches (about 5 centimeters). When a person stands up, the kidney descends and puts strain on the ureter leading to the bladder. The movement is usually subtle enough that symptoms are not apparent, although renal ptosis can cause severe flank pain, nausea, vomiting, and chills. Acute symptoms tend to improve after lying down for a few minutes. If the ureter becomes irritated or blocked by the movement of the kidneys, a person may have blood in their urine or develop frequent urinary tract infections.
A doctor can diagnose renal ptosis by examining the patient’s symptoms, screening for other possible problems, and taking x-rays of the abdomen. X-rays taken while the patient is lying down are compared to images taken while standing to see if there is obvious displacement of the kidney. Treatment decisions are made based on the severity of symptoms.
In many cases, a person can avoid surgery by taking pain relievers, limiting their physical activity, taking frequent breaks during the day to lie down, and gaining weight. If problems persist, however, the patient may need to undergo nephropexy. A surgeon makes a small incision in your lower abdomen and inserts an endoscope to guide the procedure. He or she uses staples or specialized sutures to attach the kidney to a strong band of fibrous tissue in the abdomen. Nephropexy has a high success rate and most patients have no recurring problems.
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