How Can Kidney Stones Lead to Sepsis?

Posted on April 19, 2023 in Personal Injury,Sepsis

Most people think of kidney stones as something that involves significant but temporary pain. However, there are times when kidney stones can lead to serious infections or even sepsis. Here, we want to discuss how kidney stones can lead to infections and sepsis as well as whether or not this could indicate medical malpractice. For more information, speak to a septic shock attorney in Portland to discuss the details of your unique injury case.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Information presented by the Mayo Clinic shows that kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside of the kidney, and this can lead to several complications for an individual. Kidney stones occur as a result of a variety of causes. Some individuals are more prone to kidney stones due to their genetics, but the main factors that cause kidney stones include excess body weight, diet, certain medical conditions, as well as various types of medications and supplements.

Kidney stones can affect all areas of the urinary tract, ranging from the actual kidneys all the way to the bladder and urethra. Kidney stones passing can be incredibly painful, but they do not usually cause any permanent damage if they are recognized promptly and treated by medical professionals. Sometimes, individuals only need pain medication and lots of water to pass a kidney stone, but there are times when more serious medical interventions are needed, including the use of sound waves to break out the stones or surgery to remove larger stones that will not pass on their own.

How Can This Lead to Sepsis?

Severe infections, including sepsis, can occur if kidney stones are not treated properly at the first sign that they are present. These infections can become life-threatening. It is important to understand that it does not take a serious medical condition to lead to a relatively minor infection. Infections can occur anywhere in the body and, if left untreated, can lead to sepsis.

Infections can be difficult to recognize, particularly if patients experience other types of symptoms related to kidney stones. Urine cultures can be falsely negative for infection when an individual has kidney stones, so using this as an accurate decision-making marker is not always the best solution. Because it can be hard to detect an infection when there are kidney stones present, patients are more likely to be discharged with an underlying infection that could develop into sepsis, which is the body’s way of fighting serious infections.

Speaking to an Attorney

If you or somebody you care about has been diagnosed with sepsis as a result of kidney stone treatment or the failure to treat kidney stones, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. If you have been the victim of medical malpractice, you may be able to recover various types of compensation for your losses. This includes coverage of the medical bills associated with the infection, any follow-up medical care or rehabilitation, lost wages if an individual was unable to work, as well as various types of pain and suffering damages.

However, Portland medical malpractice claims are very challenging, and you need to have a skilled lawyer by your side who can work with trusted medical experts to help determine what caused the sepsis.