KARACHI, Feb 22: The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) in association with the European Urolithiasis Society is organizing a three-day symposium on kidney stone diseases at the Deewan Farooq Medical Complex from Feb 25 to 27.

A faculty of experienced experts in urolithiasis research will deliver lectures on various topics related to kidney diseases during the event, which also includes a panel discussion on prevention of the disease itself.

There would be talks on 'Dietary and Medical Management of Stones; challenges in urolithiasis', stone structure, stones in children, stone with renal failure, alternate medical therapy, role of endo-urology and many more during various sessions of the moot.

The guest faculty includes, Dr Danny Gohel from Hong Kong, Prof Albrecht Hesse from Germany, Prof Allen Rodgers from South Africa, Prof Hugh Whitfiled and Dr Nagaraj Rao from the UK, Prof Saeed Khan from the US, Prof Fazil Marickar from India and Prof Kemal Sarica from Turkey.

The event holds particular relevance to Pakistan and many developing countries where kidney and bladder stone diseases are highly prevalent affecting all age groups, from infants to adults, and is an important cause of kidney failure.

The causes for stone formation were said to differ from those in developed regions and warrant elucidation of epidemiology, metabolic and nutritional factors. It is important to identify the risk factors to prevent recurrence in stone formers, it said mentioning that half of the work load at the SIUT constituted stone diseases.

Latest technology has been introduced at the SIUT for management of renal stones and a highly trained multi-disciplinary team looks after patients. It is but necessary to have further research and work on the preventive aspects if stone diseases. The 'SIUT Stone Group' has taken up the challenge of managing this disorder, preventing it and spreading the knowledge to other parts of the country. -APP