and was 17 centimeters in diameter.

而且直徑有十七公分

The patient didn't actually swallow a stone the size of a coconut.

病患們不是真的吞下了一顆如同椰子般的石頭

Kidney stones form inside the body,

腎結石是在身體內部形成

but unfortunately, they're extremely painful to get out.

不幸的是，取出的過程是相當疼痛的

A kidney stone is a hard mass of crystals that can form in the kidneys,

腎結石是一個在腎臟形成的晶狀硬塊

ureters,

輸尿管

bladder,

膀胱

or urethra.

或尿道

Urine contains compounds that consist of calcium,

排出的尿液包含了鈣的成份

sodium,

鈉

potassium,

鉀

oxalate,

草酸鹽

uric acid,

尿酸

and phosphate.

和磷酸鹽

If the levels of these particles get too high,

如果這些粒子的在尿液成份太高

or if urine becomes too acidic or basic,

或如果尿液變得太酸太鹼

the particles can clump together and crystallize.

這些粒子會叢聚一起然後結晶化

Unless the problem is addressed,

除非這個問題被處理

the crystals will gradually grow over a few weeks, months, or even years,

不然晶體會隨著時間漸漸的成長

forming a detectable stone.

直到形成一個可被偵測的結石

Calcium oxalate is the most common type of crystal to form this way,

草酸鈣是最常見形成晶體的種類

and accounts for about 80% of kidney stones.

說明大約百分之八十的腎結石

Less common kidney stones are made of calcium phosphate, or uric acid.

比較不常見的腎結石由磷酸鈣或尿酸組成

A slightly different type of stone

一些稍微不同種類的結石

made of the minerals magnesium ammonium phosphate, or struvite,

由礦物磷酸銨鎂或鳥糞石所組成

can be caused by bacterial infection.

可能是因為細菌感染而形成

And even rarer stones can result from genetic disorders

甚至有一些罕見結石

or certain medications.

是因遺傳疾病或特定藥物治療而產生的

A kidney stone can go undetected until it starts to move.

一顆腎結石有開始移動前都可能不會被偵測到

When a stone travels through the kidney and into the ureter,

當一顆石塊從腎臟到達輸尿管

its sharp edges scratch the walls of the urinary tract.

它的鋒利邊緣割傷尿路的壁

Nerve endings embedded in this tissue transmit excruciating pain signals

嵌入組織的神經末端透過神經系統

through the nervous system.

傳送了這個難以忍受的疼痛訊號

And the scratches can send blood flowing into the urine.

造成的刮痕會讓血液流入尿液中

This can be accompanied by symptoms of nausea,

這可能伴隨著噁心的症狀

vomiting,

或嘔吐

and a burning sensation while urinating.

排尿時會有被燃燒的感覺

If a stone gets big enough to actually block the flow of urine,

如果石塊大到實際上還會阻塞排尿

it can create an infection, or back flow,

它會造成感染或血尿

and damage the kidneys themselves.

反過來傷害腎臟

But most kidney stones don't become this serious,

但大多數的腎結石不會造成這麼嚴重的情況

or even require invasive treatment.

或甚至需要侵入式的處理方式

Masses less than five millimeters in diameter

大小小於直徑五毫米的腎結石

will usually pass out of the body on their own.

通常會自行排出體外

A doctor will often simply recommend drinking large amounts of water

醫生通常僅會建議需要喝大量的水

to help speed the process along,

去幫助加速排出的過程

and maybe taking some pain killers.

或可能需要吃一些止痛藥

If the stone is slightly larger,

如果結石稍微大一些

medications like alpha blockers can help by relaxing the muscles in the ureter

藥物治療像是甲型阻斷劑，可以幫助放鬆輸尿管肌肉

and making it easier for the stone to get through.

讓結石比較容易通過輸尿管

Another medication called potassium citrate

另一種藥物治療叫做檸檬酸鉀

can help dissolve the stones by creating a less acidic urine.

它可以藉由創造一個微酸的尿液來幫助溶解結石

For medium-sized stones up to about ten millimeters,

對於大小中等，約達十公分的結石

one option is pulverizing them with soundwaves.

一個選項是用音波把它們磨成粉末

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy uses high-intensity pulses

體外的振波碎石術使用高強度脈衝波

of focused ultrasonic energy aimed directly at the stone.

集中的超音波能量直接瞄準結石

The pulses create vibrations inside the stone itself

脈衝波引起結石內部發生震動

and small bubbles jostle it.

和小氣泡推擠它

These combined forces crush the stone into smaller pieces

結合的這兩股力量將結石打成小碎片

that can pass out of the body more easily.

那可以讓結石更容易排出身體

But zapping a stone with sound doesn't work as well

但是用超音波摧毀結石也有起不了作用的時候

if it's simply too big.

那就是它實在太大

So sometimes, more invasive treatments are necessary.

所以有時候，侵入式治療是有必要的

A rigid tube called a stent can be placed in the ureter to expand it.

用一個堅固的管子放入輸尿管去擴張它，我們稱之為支架

Optical fibers can deliver laser pulses to break up the stone.

光纖可以傳送雷射脈衝波去打碎結石

Stones can also be surgically removed through an incision

結石也能夠透過切口被外科手術移除

in the patient's back or groin.

從病患的背部或鼠蹊部

What about just avoiding kidney stones in the first place?

那麼如何在起初就避免腎結石產生？

For people prone to them,

對於易於發生的人們

their doctor may recommend drinking plenty of water,

他們的醫生可能會建議喝大量的水

which dilutes the calcium oxalate and other compounds

用來稀釋草酸鈣和其它複合物

that eventually build up into painful stones.

而那些最終會產生令人疼痛的結石

Foods like potato chips,

吃的食物像是馬鈴薯片

spinach,

菠菜

rhubarb,

大黃

and beets are high in oxalate,

和甜菜都有高草酸鹽

so doctors might advise limiting them.

所以醫生可能會建議少吃它們

Even though calcium is often found in stones,

雖然鈣常被發現在結石中

calcium in foods and beverages can actually help

但飲食中的鈣實際上會幫助

by binding to oxalate in the digestive tract

消化道中黏合分散的草酸鹽

before it can be absorbed and reach the kidneys.

在它可以被吸收和到達腎臟前

If you do end up with a kidney stone, you're not alone.

如果你最終得了腎結石，你並不孤單

Data suggests that rates are rising,

數據暗示得腎結石的比例正在升高

but that world record probably won't be broken any time soon.

但是那項世界紀錄可能還不會這麼快被打破