Peds Urology Flashcards
The inability to retract the foreskin is referred to as…
Phimosis
Can be either physiologic or pathologic
Normal state where foreskin adheres to the glans
Physiologic phimosis
Adhesions decrease with age naturally
Incidence of fully retractable foreskin highly variable
NO NEED TO TREAT unless pathologic
Non-retractable foreskin due to scarring/fibrosis that occurs secondary to infection or inflammation or early forcible retraction
Pathologic phimosis
Treatment typically required
Clinical presentation for pathologic phimosis
Secondary non-retractability after having had fully retractable foreskin
Painful erections
Irritation or bleeding
Dysuria and/or urinary retention
Recurrent infections (balanitis, UTI)
Treatment options for pathologic phimosis
Stretching exercises (gently pulling foreskin back BID)
Topical corticosteroid
Circumcision (rarely indicated)
How do you take care of an uncircumcised penis?
Avoid forcible retraction at any age
Stop retraction if met with any resistance
Foreskin requires no special care other than what is provided to the rest of the body (cleaning with mild soap and water)
Return foreskin to natural position after cleaning
If you don’t return the foreskin to its natural position after cleaning b/c if not, it can lead to …
Paraphimosis - and you’ll have to call the PARAmedics
Urologic emergency in which a retracted foreskin cannot be returned to natural position
Paraphimosis
Pathophysiology: entrapment —> impaired venous flow —> engorgement —> arterial compromise
Causes of paraphimosis
Forcible retraction of partially phimosis skin by caretaker
Infection or inflammation
Genitourinary procedures (iatrogenic)
Sexual activity, penile trauma (less frequent)
Penile piercings
SSx of paraphimosis
Sx: Swelling of the penis, penile pain, irritability in a preverbal infant
Exam: Edema/tenderness of the glans, tender swelling of the distal retracted foreskin (constricting band), color change (blue/black) if ischemia is present
How do you treat paraphimosis
Pain control
Timely, manual reduction in office or ED
Surgical intervention by urology
Surgical removal of the foreskin
Circumcision
Families usually consider religious, family or cultural factors before medical factors in deciding whether or not to circumcise
Overall prevalence of circumcision in the US
80% - higher than in other western countries but declining
Highest rates in Midwest, lowest in West
Benefits of circumcision
Decreased rate of UTI (4-10x less likely, but male UTIs typically uncommon)
Decreased rate of penile cancer (from studies before HPV vaccine came into use)
Decreased penile inflammation/dermatoses
Decreased rates of SOME STIs (no effect on susceptibility to gonnorhea or chlamydia)
Benefits greater in infants with congenital uropathy
Risks of circumcision
Procedure related complications (0.2-2%)
Inadequate skin removal, bleeding, infection, urethral complications
Female partner of an uncircumcised male is at higher risk for…
Cervical cancer due to HPV susceptibility
Potential concerns of circumcision that have not been supported by studies
That it leads to sexual dissatisfaction and breast feeding failure
That no anesthesia is used (truth: AAP and major guidelines recommend pharmacological analgesia)
Contraindications for circumcision
Unstable infant
Congenital penile anomalies (ie hypospadias, chordee) b/c might need the tissue later for surgical repair of such abnormalities
The AAP stance on circumcision
The health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, but the benefits are NOT great enough to recommend routine circumcision for all newborn boys
The final decision should still be left to parents to make in the context of their religious, ethical and cultural beliefs
ACOG has also endorsed this stance
Two different types of circumcision
Gomco - metal device holds foreskin for cutting
Plastibell - stays in place until it falls off together with foreskin
Congenital anomaly with abnormal dorsal displacement of the urethral opening
Epispadias
May occur with bladder extrophy - exposed bladder, onto the lower abdomen (many times found on prenatal ultrasound)
Congenital anomaly that results in the abnormal ventral displacement of the urethral opening
Hypospadias
Displacement varies - glans, shaft, scrotum, perineum
Incidence: 0.3-0.7% of live male births - much more common than epispadias
May also involve chordee
What the heck is a chordee?
Abnormal penile curvature
Diagnosis of hypospadias and chordee usually occurs…
During newborn exam
PE may include:
• Abnormal foreskin
•A second opening, with one a false opening
• Abnormal penile curvature (chordee)
You diagnosed hypospadias and/or chordee. Now what?
If FH of hypospadias, do through exam (look for other congenital anomalies)
Check for palpable testes
• If cryptorchidism, consider Disorder of Sexual Development (ambiguous genitalia)
Referral to urology
Treatment
• DO NOT circumcise newborn
•Surgery usually performed ~6 months of age to fix
The most common GU congenital abnormality
Cryptorchidism (hidden or absent testis)
A testis that is not within the scrotum and does not spontaneously descend into the scrotum by 4 months of age
2 to 5% of term infants and up to 30% of premature infants
70% resolve spontaneously
Cryptorchidism should be monitored closely, as it my increase risk of …
Testicular torsion (10x more common)
Subfertility (risk improves if corrected before 1 year of age)
Testicular cancer
Different classifications of cryptorchidism
ABSENT testis - from a genesis or atrophy (possibly torsion in utero)
UNDESCENDED testes: stopped short along normal descent
RETRACTILE testes: overactive cremasteric reflex pulls testis back inside
Other less common possibilities:
ASCENDING testes
ECTOPIC testes
Clinical presentation of cryptorchidism
Absent testicle usually unilaterally (10% BL) with flat, underdeveloped scrotum
Further testing recommended if BL
Good physical exam is the key
Most cases descend spontaneously by 3-4 months age. If not, refer.
Most common location for undescended testis is…
Suprascrotal
Treatment for cryptorchidism
Urology referral
Spontaneous descent is rare after 6 months of age
Surgery recommended as soon after 6 months as possible (ideally before 1 year)
Orchiopexy: Testicle is brought down and attached into the scrotum
Allows for improved testicular growth and fertility potential
Twisting of the spermatic cord due to a poorly anchored testicle
Testicular torsion —> Risk of vascular compromise
Incidence: 1 in 4000 males < 25 years
The two peak periods of incidence of testicular torsion
Neonatal period (only about 10%)
During puberty (12-18)
Clinical presentation of testicular torsion
ABRUPT onset of SEVERE testicular or scrotal pain
Pain usually constant
Nausea and vomiting (90%)
PE:
• Edematous, infuriated, erythematous scrotum
• Affected testis tender, swollen and slightly elevated (high riding)
• Absent cremasteric reflex (stroking inner thigh)
• Negative Prehn’s sign