Genitourinary Flashcards
Urinary Tract Infection
UTI
Infection of the urethra and the bladder
Pyelonephritis
Kidney Infection
Signs and symptoms of UTI
Fever
Dysuria “Burning during urination”
Urinary frequency: constant feeling of having to void
UTI Diagnosis
Urinalysis:
Cloudy and Smelly urine
Filled with WbC
Nitrites - indicates kidney infection
Urine Culture and Sensitivity
Over 10,000 organisms/ml indicates UTI, anything less is typically normal
* Cultures always taken first then give antibiotics
cloudy urine specimen is an indication of:
Bacteria in urine
Patient reporting dysuria and frequency… which test does the nurse anticipate to be ordered
Urine culture
Client with signs and symptoms of UTI collected a mid-stream urine specimen 2 hours prior and left it sitting in the bathroom…what is the nurses priority action?
Discard the specimen and obtain a new specimen
Cystitis
Bladder Infection
If this infection gets bad enough it can climb the ureters to infect the kidneys known as pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Acute Glomerulonephritis
It is the inflammation of the glomerulus which is the main filtering unit of the kidney.
Toxins, metabolic wastes and excess fluid are not properly filtered = build up in the body causing swelling and fatigue. Protein and red blood cells will be present in the urine (hematuria, proteinuria)
May be caused by infections such as strep throat
Complications of Acute Glomerulonephritis
Hematuria: patient will present with cola colored or tea colored urine
Proteinuria (mild): this can lead to low amounts of protein found in the blood
Fluid overload: at risk for heart failure, renal failure, and respiratory distress due to congestion of fluid in lungs (retaining salt and water), hypertension
Decrease glomerular filtration rate
Low Urine Output: Oliguria (watch potassium levels…hyperkalemia…the potassium will start to build-up in the blood
Hypertension: decreased filtration rate of the kidneys, increased blood volume, and retaining sodium.
At risk for hypertensive encephalopathy due to prolonged/untreated high blood pressure which can affect the brain…watch for neuro changes, headaches, and seizures
Signs and symptoms of Acute Glomerulonephritis
“HAD STREP”
Hypertension
ASO (antistreptolysin titer positive)
Decrease GFR - low urine output
Swelling in face and eyes
Tea coloured urine (from hematuria)
Recent strep infection
Elevated BUN and Creatinine
Proteinuria
Nursing Interventions for Acute Glomerulonephritis
Monitor fluid status
Daily weights
Strict calculation of intake and output
Monitor BUN and Creatinine levels ….renal failure
Sodium restriction along with fluid restriction diet (helps with edema and hypertension) and if oliguria is present restrict potassium-rich foods until recovered
*Since the disorder mainly affects the pediatric population remember these patients should void 1mL/kg/hr.
Administering diuretics and antihypertensives or antibiotics to treat presenting strep infection (if needed…not always ordered) per MD order
What happens when there is a low amount of protein the blood?
Swelling in the interstitial tissue…hence EDEMA. The swelling mainly presents in the face/eyes and will be mild.
What is the nephron?
The functional unit of the kidney that filters the blood and reabsorbs/secretes mineral, water, and waste, which is urine.
Role of Glomerulus
it filters the blood and removes ions, water, waste EXCEPT proteins and bloods cells (they are too big to pass through)
Facts about Acute Glomerulonephritis
It tends to present 14 days after a strep infection of the throat or skin (impetigo).
It mainly affects the pediatric population ages 2-10.
It is not caused from the strep bacteria attacking the glomerulus but the immune system’s response to the bacteria by creating antigen-antibody complexes, which inflames the glomerulus.
This is why you see it AFTER a strep infection
Renal Calculi
Kidney Stones
What are kidney stones
Hard insoluble crystallized minerals and salts that have formed out of the filtrate produced by the nephron.
Kidney stones can vary in size: they can be very small (like a fine grain of salt) or large (like a walnut….very painful), and are composed of various materials.
Passing kidney stones
Most stones can be passed (very painful) if they are less than 5 mm (Diagnosis And Initial Managment Of Kidney Stones 8). If they are larger than this, they can become stuck within the urinary system.
Where can kidney stones be located
Inside the kidney
Ureters (top, middle, or bottom of ureter before entering bladder)
Bladder
Causes of Kidney Stones
“CRYSTAL”
Consuming high amounts of oxalates, purine, animals protein, salt (eating too much salt keeps the body from reabsorbing calcium in the urine), and taking excessive amounts of calcium supplements with Vitamin D (calcium oxalate, uric acids type stones)
Recurrent UTIs (struvite stones)
hYpocitraturia, hYpercalemia/uria, hYperparathyroidism
Structural blockage or stasis of the urine (prostate problems, strictures, deformities)
Too much uric acid (gout, dehydration, high diet in purine/animal proteins)
Absorption problems: gut doesn’t absorb fats as with ulcerative colitis or crohn’s diseae…fats bind with calcium and leaves oxalates behind
Low activity: immobile patients tend to have an increased amount of minerals and salts compared to people who are physically active and the urine stays stagnant in the kidney…
Signs and Symptoms of Renal Calculi
Asymptomatic: until stone moves within the kidneys and to the ureters
Pain: characteristics of the pain depend on the location of the stone and it can change as the stone moves through the urinary system
Renal colic: stone in the renal pelvis…dull, deep aching in the flank or costovertebral area
Ureteral colic: stone residing in the ureter and as it moves it can cause intense, sharp, radiating, wavelike pain to the genitalia (scrotum, vaginal area)
The patient may feel like they need to void but a small amount is voided.
Can have blood in the urine due to stone scraping the ureter (hematuria)
Nausea and vomiting (due to the intense pain)
Signs and symptoms of infection: fever, cloudy, odorous urine
Urinary retention: especially if stone is stuck in neck of bladder
Complications of Kidney stones
Obstruction
Damage of the nephrons hence renal failure
Infection
Kidney Stone treatment
Extracorporeal shock save
The kidney stone is removed by a urologist and doesn’t have to be passed by the patient as with EWSL.
Urinary Incontinence
Urination happens involuntarily
Affects personal hygiene and social life
Depression, social isolation, skin break down
Types of Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence
Urge urinary incontinence
Mixed urinary incontinence (combination of both stress and urge incontinence)
Treatment of Stress incontinence
Pelvic floor exercises: Kegel
Losing weight
Surgical options
Stress urinary incontinence Causes
This is due to a weakened pelvic floor or weakened urinary sphincter muscles
Urge urinary Incontinence
Over active bladder
Sudden strong urge to urinate
Associated with an overactive detrusor muscle (smooth muscle in wall of the bladder)
Muscle contracts at wrong times no matter how much urine is in your bladder
Urge urinary Incontinence causes
Damage to the nerves in the bladder, disorders like MS, spinal cord injuries and stroke
Bladder irritation due to UTI, caffeine or certain medications
Can be associated with enlarged prostate (BPH)
Urge urinary Incontinence Treatment
Bladder training
Maintaining a set toileting schedule and gradually increasing amount of time between voting
Avoid caffeine and alcohol
Botox injections
Surgical options (severe risks)
Weakened pelvic floor women
Can occur due to pregnancy, child birth, menopause as well as previous pelvic surgeries
Weakened pelvic floor in men
Prostate surgery can cause damage or weaken the urinary sphincter muscles, which can lead to stress urinary incontinence
Acute Kidney Injury
It is the SUDDEN decrease or loss in renal function that will lead to the buildup of waste in the blood, fluid overload, and electrolyte imbalances. AKI can be reversible.
If not treatment can led to ESRD
Role of The kidneys
Filters the blood which creates a filtrate called urine. In addition, the kidneys regulate electrolyte levels, removes waste, and excessive fluid in the body. The kidneys normally do NOT filter blood cells or proteins.
How do the kidneys create urine?
Via the nephrons in the kidneys (the heart also plays a role in this, specifically the blood flow given by the heart to supply the kidneys with blood).
Each kidney contains millions of nephrons. Each nephron receives fresh blood from the heart via an afferent arteriole.
Damaged nephrons
When the nephrons are damaged as in INTRARENAL failure this mechanism is damaged and the patient will experience electrolyte imbalances, decreased glomerular filtration rate, decreased urinary output, azotemia (increase of BUN and creatinine in the blood…waste products).
Urine consists of:
Water
Ions: sodium, chloride, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphate, bicarbonate
Creatinine*
Urea
Glomerular filtration rate
Glomerular Filtration Rate: rate of blood flow through the kidneys (ml/min). This shows how well the glomerulus is filtering the blood….great for determining kidney function.
Normal GFR in adults: 90 or higher ml/min (remember this depends on the patient’s age, weight, creatinine, sex, and race)
Normal GFR = normal urine output, normal BUN and creatinine, normal electrolyte and water balance
Decreased GFR = low urinary output along with an increase in waste products in the blood (creatinine and BUN), electrolyte/fluid imbalances, and buildup of fluid
BUN
BUN (blood urine nitrogen): urea (measured as blood urea nitrogen) is a waste product from protein breakdown in the liver. It is secreted in the blood and filtered out through the kidneys.
Normal BUN: 6-20 mg/dL (in AKI this level becomes greater than 20 mg/dL)
Causes of AKI
Prerenal Injury: issue with perfusion to the kidneys (any injury BEFORE the kidneys)
This leads the kidney function to decrease. The kidneys are deprived of nutrients to function properly and the amount of blood it can filter. This can eventually lead to intrarenal damage where nephrons become damaged.
What can lead to decreased perfusion to the kidney
Issues with the heart in conditions that decrease cardiac output as with an acute myocardial infarction. In this condition, the heart muscle is damaged and can’t pump sufficient amounts of blood to the kidney.
Other causes: massive bleeding (internally or externally), dehydration (hypovolemia…diarrhea, vomiting), burns etc.
What can lead to the damage of the nephrons in the kidneys?
Intrarenal Injury: damage to the nephrons of the kidney (injury in WITHIN the kidneys)
When the nephrons are damaged the kidneys can’t filter the blood, maintain electrolyte levels, and remove excessive waste and fluid from the body.
Nephrotoxic drugs: NSAIDS
Antibiotics “aminoglycosides
Chemo drugs
Contrast dyes used in procedures
Infection “glomerulonephritis”
Injury
Injury found after the kidneys
Postrenal Injury: blockage in the urinary tract after the kidneys to the urethra (injury found AFTER the kidneys)
This prevents urine from draining out of the kidneys, which leads to build up pressure and waste in the kidney and decreases their function.
What can cause a blockage in this area?
Renal calculi
Enlarged prostate
A bladder doesn’t empty properly due to neuro damage “stroke”