Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had an unexpected ride with the Ecuadorean Navy last week due to a kidney stone attack in the Galapagos Islands. Bezos was treated quickly and is on the mend in as much time. However, his sudden illness and need for immediate care begs the question: what are the latest technological developments for kidney stones? And also, is this technology and care available to anyone outside the Top 20 Rich List?
Kidney stones (or renal calci) are a common disorder known to affect one-third of the world’s population. If the stone is small it may pass easily through an individual’s urinary tract and cause little pain or discomfort, but if it is large with multiple branches or segments, chances are this isn’t going to happen. In fact, the more complex the stone is, the more severe the pain can be, not to mention the possibility of it leading to renal deterioration, kidney failure, and life-threatening infections if left untreated.
Removing kidney stones can be very complex, invasive and expensive. If surgery is needed it is dependant on a range of factors, including stone location, composition (they can differ in shape and size) and burden. Yet while surgery has historically been one of the most common forms of treatment, it may not necessarily be the case anymore.
December’s TASCIT® Sci-Tech Summit held across three locations in the Philippines thanks to hologram technology, was dubbed ‘Cutting Edge’ and stuck true to its nickname for kidney stone technology. Speakers at the event unveiled the advanced technology in kidney stone management, and the pioneering research and development (R&D) behind Biomedis’ potassium citrate tablets.
In a presentation by Unilab senior vice president for R&D, Dr Kennie Dee and Dr Dennis Serrano, potassium citrate was stated as a preventative measure for the recurrence of calcium oxalate and uric acid stones, known to comprise around 85 to 90 per cent of kidney stones.
“Beating stone disease is indeed a challenge, but it is a challenge that we can measure up through dietary manipulation, lifestyle changes, paying attention to adequate hydration day in and day out, and recognition of the importance of inhibitory substances in the prevention of stone formation,” said Serrano.
During the presentation Dee demonstrated how the potassium citrate particles are held within a waxy matrix and slowly released from the tablet. The insoluble exterior of the tablet remains intact as it moves through gastro-intestinal tract.
A speaker for Amazon’s Bezos reported that “no surgery was required” for the multi-millionaire and that he is steadily improving. While details of his emergency treatment will most likely remain undisclosed, it’s a promising sign that technology, now and in the future, is pushing us away from the more invasive and expensive modalities of kidney stone treatment. It is also promising that technological efforts in this area are directed at preventative methods, reducing very expensive call outs to the Ecuadorean Navy.
