Renal calculi and obstruction Flashcards
What are nephrolithiasis (renal stones)?
Renal stones consist of crystal aggregates.
=> Stones form in collecting ducts and can deposit anywhere from the renal pelvis to the urethra
=> Most common place to deposit is:
- Pelviureteric junction
- Pelvic brim
- Vesicoureteric junction
How common is renal stones?
Very common
Life time prevalence = 15%
Who does it affect?
20-40 year olds
Male > Female [3:1]
What are the causes of urinary tract stones?
- Dehydration
- Hypercalcaemia
- Hypercalciuria
- Hyperoxaluria
- Hyperuricaemia & hyperuricosuria
- Infection
- Cystinuria
- Primary renal disease i.e. polycystic kidneys, medullary sponge kidneys, renal tubular acidosis
- Drugs
=> promoting calcium stones i.e. loop diuretics, antacids, glucocorticoids, theophylline, vitamins D and C, acetozolamide
=> promoting uric acid stones i.e. thiazides, salicylates - Family Hx of stones or x-linked nephrolithiasis => increases risk 3x
How does a UTI lead to stone formation?
What is the composition of a mixed infective stone aka struvite stone?
What is the most common characteristic of a struvite stone?
UTI with proteus mirabilis hydrolyses urea with formation of ammonium hydroxide salts.
=> Ammonium salt and alkalinity of urine favour mixed infective stone formation
=> Mixed infective stone (aka Struvite stones) composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium
=> Struvite stones are large forming a stag horn calculus.
What causes uric stones?
Idiopathic gout = increased uric acid (hyperuricaemia)
Dehydration
What causes calcium stones?
Primary hyperparathyroidism
Vitamin D ingestion / synthesis
Sarcoidosis
High dietary calcium intake
Excessive resorption of calcium from skeleton due to immobilisation or weightlessness
What are the symptoms of urinary tract stones?
1) Pain => excruciating spasms of renal colic ‘loin to groin’ pain with Nausea & Vomiting
=> cannot lie still (differentiates it from peritonitis)
- Infection e.g. UTI / pyelonephritis (fever, riggers, loin pain, nausea & vomiting) ; pyelonephrosis (infected hydronephrosis)
=> increased risk of infection if voiding impaired
- Haematuria
- Proteinuria
- Sterile pyuria
- Anuria
What are the signs of urinary tract stones?
No tenderness on palpation
Renal angle tenderness on percussion if there is retroperitoneal inflammation
Describe the characteristic of the pain felt in obstructed
=> kidney
=> mid ureter
=> lower ureter
=> bladder or urethra
=> Obstructed kidney: pain in the loin, between rib 12 and lateral edge of lumbar muscle
=> Obstructed mid ureter: can mimic appendicitis / diverticulitis
=> Obstructed lower ureter: bladder irritability & pain in scrotum, penis tip and labia majora,
=> Obstruction in bladder or urethra: pelvic pain, dysuria, strangury (desire but inability to void) ± interrupted flow ; anuria, painful bladder distention => bladder outflow obstruction ; usually assoc. with bacteriuria
What are the types of urinary tract stones?
- Calcium oxalate
- Magnesium ammonium phosphahte (struvite stones)
- Urate stones
- Hydroxyapatite stones
- Brushite
- Cystine
- Mixed
What are the most common types of urinary stones?
Calcium oxalate (75%)
Magnesium ammonium phosphate / struvite stones (15%)
Urate stones (5%)
Hydroxyapatite (5%)
What are the initial tests to investigate urinary tract stones?
- Bloods: FBC, U&E, calcium, phosphate, glucose bicarbonate, urate
- Urine dipstick: +ve for blood (90%)
- Mid stream urine (MSU) microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MC&S)
- Urine pH
- 24h urine for calcium, oxalate, urate, citrate, sodium, creatinine
- Stone biochemistry (sieve urine and send stone)
What imaging is recommended in urinary tract stones?
- Non-contrast CT
=> Test of choice for imaging stones
=> 99% stones visible
=> Helps exclude differential causes of an acute abdomen i.e. ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) - presents similarly
- Kidney, ureters, bladder (KUB) X-ray
=> 80% of stones visible - Ultrasound for hydronephrosis or hydroureter
What is the treatment for urinary tract stones?
=> What is the choice of treatment for stones<5mm?
=> What is the choice of treatment for stones>5mm?
=> What is the choice of treatment for stones <1cm?
=> What is the choice of treatment for large, multiple or complicated stones?
- Analgesia e.g. diclofenac (NSAID) 75mg IV/IM
- Antibiotics if infection
- Stones <5mm in lower ureter: ~95% pass spontaneously if hydration is maintained (drink 2.5L/day)
- Stones >5mm/pain not resolving: Medical expulsive therapy i.e. alpha blocker like Tamsulosin or nifedipine promote distal ureteral stones
=> alpha receptors predominantly present in distal ureter and detrusor
=> most stones pass within 48h - If stone (<1cm) still present: Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (EWSL)
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (key hole surgery) for large, multiple or complex stones