Teacher Hospitalized with Acute Kidney Failure from Kidney Stone in Vietnam

A teacher in Vietnam was admitted to the emergency department with acute kidney failure caused by a 5 × 6 mm kidney stone that blocked his ureter. Three months earlier he had experienced severe flank pain, was advised to increase fluid intake, take medication and return for follow‑up, but he missed the appointment and instead tried a traditional remedy.

When the pain returned, a CT scan showed the stone still lodged in the lower ureter, the kidney severely swollen and renal function deteriorating. Surgeons performed ureteroscopic stone removal, dilated the narrowed ureter segment and placed a JJ stent to protect the kidney. The operation was successful and the patient recovered well. Dr. Mai Văn Lực explained that the absence of pain does not mean the stone has passed, noting, “May you have pain again,” because pain signals ongoing obstruction.