Renal/Urology Flashcards
what are the 3 classical locations for renal stones to get stuck?
- pelviureteric junction (PUJ)
- pelvic brim
- vesicoureteric junction (VUJ)
(the three places the ureters are narrowest)
what are most renal stones made up of? what are the other three substances?
- calcium oxalate.
- calcium phosphate
- urate
- struvite
give 3 predisposing factors for renal stones
hypercalcaemia, sarcoidosis, hyperparathyroidism, high uric acid, UTI, PKD, loop diuretics, antacids
why do renal stones form?
form when normally soluble material supersaturates the urine.
must also overcome the inhibitors of crystal formation present in normal urine.
what causes calcium renal stones?
hypercalciuria, due to hypercalcaemia - due to e.g. hyperparathyroidism, excess dietary clacium, excessive bone resorption (prolonged immobilisation)
who’s particularly at risk of uric acid stones?
those with clinical gout - hyperuricaemia.
those with ileostomies - loss of bicarbonate from GI secretions leads to acid urine, reducing solubility of uric acid.
how might frequent UTIs put you at risk of renal stones?
some infecting organisms produce urease
how do ureteric/renal calculi present? how does the pattern of pain relate to innervation of ureters?
renal colic - excruciating spasms, ‘loin to groin’.
restlessness, dysuria, desire but inability to void. not normally actually colicky pain.
might get macroscopic haematuria. if N&V, fever - worry about secondary pyelonephritis/pyonephrosis.
loin to groin pain as innervated by ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerves.
what is the best investigation to visualise renal stones with?
KUB/abdo XR (kidney, ureter + bladder) - 50% of stones are radio-opaque. if they do turn up it’s helpful cos it’s easy to do follow up abdo XRs in clinic.
CT-KUB - for radio-lucent stones
what other investigations might you perform in renal colic (apart from imaging)?
urine dipstick - 90% +ve for blood, also white cells for secondary infection (MSU for MC&S if present)
calcium and urate levels - 24h urine.
how would you treat a patient with renal stones?
depends on size and material of stone. <7mm leave to pass naturally with LOTS OF ANALGESIA (diclofenac)
if >7mm:
- lithotripsy
- lithoplapaxy
- percutaneous nephrolithotomy
give some examples of steps to be taken to prevent recurrence of renal stones
drink plenty, normal dietary calcium intake, reduce salt intake
allopurinol for urate stones, pyridoxine for oxalate stones.
define hydronephrosis. what can it lead to?
dilatation of renal pelvis - compression and thinning of renal parenchyma - decrease in kidney size.
what happens to the urinary tract proximal to a point of obstruction?
dilates
give 3 possible causes of urinary tract obstruction
prostatic obstruction - hypertrophy or tumour. gynaecological cancers (but also other gynae stuff like ovarian cysts/endometriosis - most common kind of cause in young women) hypercalcaemia. caliculi (stones). renal tubular acidosis. primary hyperoxaluria. medullary sponge kidney. TB.
how would acute upper urinary tract obstruction present?
loin to groin pain.
superimposed infection ± loin tenderness.
enlarged kidney.
how would chronic upper urinary tract obstruction present?
flank pain, renal failure, superimposed infection, polyuria (due to impaired urine concentration).
how would acute lower urinary tract obstruction present?
severe suprapubic pain.
symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction.
distended, palpable bladder, dull to percussion.
how would chronic lower urinary tract obstruction present?
urinary frequency, hesitancy, poor stream, terminal dribbling, overflow incontinence.
distended palpable bladder.
how would you treat upper urinary tract obstruction?
nephrostomy or ureteric stent.
alpha blockers - decrease ureteric spasm, help with stent pain.
how would you treat lower urinary tract obstruction?
urethral/suprapubic catheter.
treat underlying cause.
possible large diuresis on relief of obstruction - watch for salt loss!
give 2 pre-renal causes of AKI
renal hypoperfusion, sepsis, CCF, cirrhosis, renal artery stenosis, NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors
give 2 renal causes of AKI
acute tubular necrosis, PKD, SLE, renal cell carcinoma, myeloma, diabetic nephropathy, drugs, vasculitis, thrombus, HUS, TTP, infections.
give 2 post-renal causes of AKI
urinary tract obstruction by stones/clots, blocked catheter, retroperitoneal fibrosis, benign prostatic hypertrophy/prostatic carcinoma