Renal/Urology Flashcards
1
Q
Uraemia
- Symptoms
- Life threatening conditions
A
- Lethargy, confusion, convulsions, N+V, pruritis
2. Pericarditis, encephalopathy
2
Q
Pre-renal vs renal causes - distinguish
A
Pre-renal reduced perfusion - urine concentrated
Renal - salt and water loss due to problems with kidney
3
Q
Differentials for presentations
- Dysuria, urgency, frequency, nocturia
- Difficulty initiating voiding, poor stream, dribbling
- Oliguria
- Polyuria
- Ureteric colic (radiates anteriorly and to groin)
- Loin pain (including important non-renal differential)
- Visible haematuria
A
- UTI
- Prostatic aetiology
- AKI
- High fluid intake, DM, diabetes insipidus, hypercalcaemia, renal medullary disorders
- Renal stone, clot, sloughed papilla
- Pyelonephritis, renal cyst, renal infarct, AAA
- Malignancy, PKD, glomerular disease (IgA, anti-GBM), Alport disease
4
Q
Systemic disorders with renal involvement
- Metabolic
- Auto-immune
- Infection
- Malignancy
- Pregnancy
- Drugs
A
- DM, sickle cell, tuberous sclerosis, Fabry disease, cystinosis
- ANCA vasculitis, SLE, HSP, systemic sclerosis, sarcoid, Sjogren’s
- Sepsis, TB, malaria, chronic hepatitis, HIV
- Obstruction, hypercalcaemia, direct toxicity i.e. myeloma
- Pre-eclampsia, obstruction
- NSAIDs, ACE-i, ARB, aminoglycosides e.g. gentamicin, chemotherapy
5
Q
Proteinuria
- Normal albumin:creatinine ratio vs proteinuria A:CR
- Normal protein:creatinine ratio vs proteinuria P:CR
- Causes
- False positive causes
- Microalbuminuria - definition
- Microalbuminuria - cause
- Effect on specific gravity
A
- < 2.5 (men), < 3.5 (women) vs 30
- < 15 vs 50
- Glomerular disease - glomerulonephritis, DM, amyloidosis, myeloma
- Postural (repeat early morning sample), post-exercise, fever, heart failure
- Albumin excretion 30-300 mg/24 h
- Early glomerular disease e.g. DM, HTN
6
Q
Haematuria
- Transient causes
- Main causes (KUB, prostate, systemic)
- False positive causes
- Painful causes
- Syndrome it differentiates from
- Questions to ask
- Bloods
- Urine tests
- Imaging
- Further tests
- 2ww urological/renal referral indications
- Non-urgent renal referral indication
A
- UTI, menstruation
- Malignancy (kidney, ureter, bladder*), calculi, trauma, glomerular disease (IgA, anti-GBM), Alport syndrome, PKD, schistosomiasis, Wilm’s nephroblastoma in young children, TB
- Myoglobinuria (check microscopy)
- Stones, UTI
- Nephritis, not nephrotic
- How much blood, which part of the stream, what colour, pain, B symptoms
- FBC, U+Es, CRP, clotting
- Urine dip, culture Early morning sample for TB
- X-ray KUB, CT urogram, US
- Cystoscopy, renal biopsy
- 45+ and VH without UTI, or 60+ and NVH with dysuria / raised WCC
- NVH with eGFR < 60, proteinuria, HTN, FH
7
Q
Urine dipstick - significance of findings
- Glucose
- Ketones
- Leucocytes
- Nitrites
- Bilirubin
- Urobilinogen
- Specific gravity - normal range + use
- pH - normal range, cause for more acidic
A
- DM, pregnancy, sepsis, proximal renal tubular pathology
- Starvation, ketoacidosis
- UTI, vaginal discharge
- Gram negative UTI
- Haemolysis
- Liver disease, haemolysis
- 1.005-1.030, estimates urine osmolality, up in proteinuria
- 4.5-9, more acidic in renal tubular acidosis and meat diet
8
Q
Urine microscopy - significance of findings
- Number of red cells /mm3 to be abnormal
- Isomorphic red cells
- Dysmorphic (abnormal size/shape) red cells
- Number of white cells /mm3 to be abnormal
- White cells
- Squamous epithelial cells
- Casts - what are they
- Hyaline cast
- Red cell cast
- White cell cast
- Granular cast - formed from what, and cause
- Eosinophilic cast
- Crystal - normal causes
- Uric acid crystal
- Calcium oxalate crystal
- Cystine crystal
A
- < 2
- Genitourinary/external bleeding
- Glomerular bleeding, tubular passage, pH / osmolality / protein changes
- > 10
- UTI, glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal transplant rejection, malignancy
- Normal
- Cylindrical bodies formed in distal tubule lumen from Tamm-Horsfall protein and cells
- Normal
- Glomerular inflammation e.g. glomerulonephritis
- Pyelonephritis, interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis
- Formed from degenerated tubular cells, CKD
- Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis
- Old/cold urine
- Uric acid stone, tumour lysis syndrome
- Stones, high oxalate diet, ethylene glycol poisoning
- Cysteinuria
9
Q
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Uncomplicated - definition
- Complicated - definition and causes
- Risk factors (4 groups)
- Cystitis (lower UTI - bladder irritation) symptoms
- Pyelonephritis (upper UTI) symptoms
- Prostatitis symptoms
- Bedside tests
- Blood tests (if systemically unwell)
- Imaging / referral - type and indication
- Commonest organism
- Bacteria associated with stone formation
- Cystitis - management in non-pregnant
- Pyelonephritis - management
- Pregnancy - antibiotics to avoid
- Prostatitis - management
- Sterile pyuria - differentials and investigation
A
- Normal renal tract structure/function
- Abnormal structure/function, e.g. from obstruction, catheter, stones, neurogenic bladder, renal transplant
- Bacterial inoculation (sexual activity, incontinence, constipation), bacteria binding (spermicides, low oestrogen), low urine flow (dehydration, obstructed tract), bacterial growth (DM, immunosuppression, obstruction, stones, catheter, pregnancy)
- Frequency, dysuria, nocturia, urgency, suprapubic pain, polyuria, haematuria
- Fever, rigors, N+V, loin pain, sepsis, urinary symptoms
- Pain in perineum / rectum / scrotum / penis / bladder / lower back, fever, malaise, nausea, urinary symptoms
- Dipstick (if not pregnant), MSU culture
- FBC, U+E, CRP, blood culture
- USS in upper UTI / failure to respond / 2+ per year / unusual organism / persistent haematuria
- Anaerobes, gram negative bacteria from bowel e.g. E. coli, staphylococcus saprophyticus
- Proteus
- If 3+ symptoms, empirical with 3 day trimethoprim / nitrofurantoin (7 day if men). No culture initially.
- Admit, culture, cefalexin PO/cefuroxime IV, or co-amoxiclav if culture available and susceptible
- 1st trimester (trimethoprim as anti-folate, ciprofloxacin), 3rd trimester (nitrofurantoin as HDON)
- Ciprofloxacin (fluoroquinolone) 4 weeks
- Analgesia nephropathy, recently/partially treated UTI, chlamydia, appendicitis, catheter/other instrumentation, urinary tract TB (do acid-fast microscopy and microbacterial early-morning MSU)
10
Q
Acute kidney injury (AKI)
- Stage 1 criteria
- Stage 2 criteria
- Stage 3 criteria
- Bedside tests - frequency required
- Monitoring requirements
- Bloods - frequency required
- Investigations
- Renal referral - indications
- What to suspect if urea rise is proportionally greater than the creatinine rise
A
- Creatinine rise > 26.5 umol/L in 24 hours, or > 1.5x baseline in 7 days, or urine output < 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6-12 hours
- Creatinine 2-2.9 x baseline, or UO < 0.5 for 12+ hours
- Creatinine >3x baseline, or 0.3 for 24 hours / anuric for 12 hours
- Heart rate, BP, JVP, capillary refill, palpate bladder - look for pulmonary oedema or hypovolaemia - observations 4 hourly
- Fluid balance (catheter/hourly UO)
- FBC (Hb), potassium, creatinine (daily), bicarb/lactate (if sepsis), LFTs (hepatorenal), platelets (low then blood film for HUS/TTP), intrinsic disease tests if indicated (immunoglobulin, paraprotein, complement, autoantibodies e.g. ANA, ANCA, anti-GBM)
- Dipstick (proteinuria quantification), USS within 24 hours if cause unknown/not improving
- Not responding, complications (potassium, fluid overload, acidosis), stage 3, HTN, possible intrinsic disease
- Dehydration
11
Q
AKI - causes
- Pre-renal (low volume) (4 groups)
- Renal (3 groups)
- Post-renal (obstruction) (2 groups)
A
- Low vascular volume (D+N+V, burns, haemorrhage, pancreatitis), low cardiac output (cardiogenic shock, MI), systemic vasodilation (sepsis), renal vasoconstriction (NSAIDs, ACE-i, ARB), hepatorenal syndrome
- Glomerular (glomerulonephritis, acute tubular necrosis), interstitial (drug reaction, infection, infiltration e.g. sarcoid), vessels (vasculitis, HUS, TTP, DIC)
- Within renal tract (stone, malignancy, stricture, clot- thrombosis), extrinsic compression (pelvic/prostatic malignancy, retroperitoneal fibroids)
12
Q
AKI - management
- Pre-renal
- Renal
- Post-renal
- Hypovolaemia - how much, which, cautions
- Hypervolaemia - causes and management
- Acidosis - staging and management
- Hyperkalaemia - ECG changes
- Hyperkalaemia - indications for management
- Hyperkalaemia - management
A
- Treat cause - correct volume depletion / increase renal perfusion, treat underlying sepsis
- Refer to renal for likely biopsy and specialist treatment
- Nephrostomy, catheter, urological intervention
- 500mL crystalloid over 15 minutes, then further 250-500mL boluses up to maximum 2L, reassess each time. 0.9% normal saline (hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis), buffered e.g. Hartmann’s / Ringer’s / Plasmalyte (hyperkalaemia)
- IV fluids and oliguric/septic. Give O2 as required, fluid restriction, diuretics if symptomatic, RRT.
- Mild 7.3-7.35, moderate 7.2-7.29, severe < 7.2. Treat underlying disorder
- Absent P, long PR, wide bizarre QRS, tall peaked T - asystole, ventricular fibrillation, bizarre wide complex PEA.
- ECG if >6, treat if ECG changes or K+ >6.5
- Calcium gluconate 10% 10ml IV over 5-10 minutes. 10 units IV soluble insulin in 25g glucose. Salbutamol 10-20mg nebulised. Confirm underlying pathology/RRT for K+ removal.
13
Q
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Definition
- History questions
- Cardiac symptoms
- GI symptoms
- CNS symptoms
- Causes (‘HIDDEN’)
A
- Abnormal kidney structure/function present for >3 months
- Previous UTI, lower tract symptoms, PMH of HTN/DM/IHD, renal colic, drug history, FH of renal disease/SAH, malignancy, eyes/skin/joints
- Pericarditis, oedema, SOB, arrhythmias
- N+V, anorexia, pruritis, bone pain
- Fatigue, weakness, confusion, seizures, coma
- HTN, (recurrent) Infections, Diabetes, Drugs, Exotica (SLE / vasculitis), Nephritis
14
Q
CKD - classification
- G1
- G2
- G3a
- G3b
- G4
- G5
- GFR when potentially symptomatic
- A1
- A2
- A3
- Renal failure
A
- GFR >90, only CKD if other evidence of kidney damage
- GFR 60-89, only CKD if other evidence of kidney damage
- GFR 45-59, mild-moderate
- GFR 30-44, moderate-severe
- GFR 15-29, severe
- GFR <15, renal failure
- GFR <30 (stage 4/5)
- <30 mg/24h albumin excretion, A:CR <3mg/mmol
- 30-300 mg/24h albumin excretion, A:CR 3-30mg/mmol
- <300mg/24h albumin excretion, A:CR >30mg/mmol
- Creatinine >50% above baseline
15
Q
CKD - management
- Renal referral - indications
- ACE-i - indications
- HbA1C - target
- Lifestyle
- Anaemia
- Acidosis
- Oedema
- Bone-mineral disorder
- Cardiovascular disease
A
- Stage G4/5 CKD, quick GFR fall, HTN despite 4+ drugs
- DM and A:CR >3, HTN and A:CR >30, any CKD and A:CR >70
- 53 mmol/mol
- Exercise, healthy weight, no smoking, low salt diet
- EPO injections, IV iron
- Sodium bicarb supplements if GFR <30 and low (<20) serum bicarb
- Fluid restriction, furosemide, + thiazide potentially
- Dietary restriction (e.g. dairy) and binders if phosphate >1.5 mmol/L, vitamin D supplements (e.g. colecalciferol) or activated analogue (e.g. calcitriol) if PTH still high
- Low-dose aspirin, 20mg atorvastatin
5.
16
Q
CKD - Investigations
- Baseline bloods - U+E, FBC, Ca2+, phosphate, ABG, haematinics, glucose
- Potential other bloods
- Imaging - CKD, AKI, renovascular how to distinguish chronic from acute (and exceptions)
- Biopsy indications
- CXR changes
- Cause of low calcium, + what this leads to
A
- U+E (compare to previous) - uraemia, high Na+ and K+, Hb (normocytic, normochromic anaemia), low Ca2+, high phosphate, metabolic acidosis (with/without respiratory compensation - can’t secrete H+ or reabsorb HCO3-), low ferritin, BM high (if DM)
- ANA, ANCA, antiphospholipid antibodies
- Chronic usually bilaterally small (<9cm) kidneys (except amyloid, myeloma, APKD, DM), AKI normal size, vascular asymmetrical
- Progressive, nephrotic, systemic disease, AKI without recovery
- Overload (pulmonary oedema)
- Unable to produce calcitriol (activated vit D) so Ca2+ not reabsorbed; leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism
17
Q
CKD - examination findings
- Periphery
- Face
- Neck
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Abdomen
A
- Peripheral oedema, signs of peripheral vascular disease/neuropathy (DM), AV fistula, uraemic flap/encephalopathy if GFR <15, immunosuppression signs (bruising etc.)
- Anaemia, xanthelasma, yellow tinge (uraemia), jaundice (hepatorenal syndrome)
- JVP (fluid state), tunnelled line (small scar over EJV and large scar over ‘breast pocket’ area), parathyroidectomy scar
- BP, cardiomegaly
- Pulmonary oedema or effusion
- PD catheter/previous scars (diagonal from umbilicus), previous transplant signs (scar, palpable graft), palpable liver, ballotable polycystic kidneys
18
Q
Renal replacement therapy (RRT) - dialysis and filtration
- Indication in CKD and AKI
- Types used in AKI
- AV fistula - Artery and vein normally used
- AV fistula - Cause of thrill and bruit
- AV fistula - Complications (4)
- Haemodialysis - location and method
- Haemodialysis - non-fistula complications
- Peritoneal dialysis - location and method
- Peritoneal dialysis - complications
- Haemofiltration - method and indication
- RRT - general complications
A
- Low creatinine clearance <20/15, symptomatic uraemia e.g. pruritis despite treatment, unresponsive fluid overload, bone disease, severe hyperkalaemia, severe acidosis
- Haemodialysis, haemofiltration
- Radial artery, cephalic vein
- Arterial blood from the radial artery
- Thrombosis, infection, stenosis, bleeding
- Blood passed over semi-permeable membrane, dialysis fluid flowing other way, solutes diffuse down concentration gradient. Done 3+ times/week, in hospital or at home
- Dialysis disequilibrium (between cerebral and blood solutes) leading to cerebral oedema so start slowly, hypotension, time-consuming
- Home; catheter into peritoneal cavity, fluid with osmotic agents e.g. glucose pumped in, drains intermittently (continuous process)
- Catheter site infection, PD peritonitis, hernia, gradual loss of membrane function
- Filtered using positive pressure; used short term in critical care when haemodialysis not possible due to hypotension
- CVD (HTN, calcium/phosphate dysregulation, vascular stiffness, abnormal endothelial function), protein-calorie malnutrition, renal bone disease (high turnover, osteodystrophy, osteitis fibrosa),
19
Q
RRT - Transplant
- Contraindications (absolute, temporary, relative)
- Expanded criteria donor - examples and prognosis
- Perioperative immunosuppression
- Long-term immunosuppression
- Acute rejection - cause, diagnosis, treatment
- Chronic rejection - cause
- Malignancy - more at risk of
- Commonest infection post-transplant, and signs
A
- Absolute (metastatic cancer), temporary (active infection, HIV with viral replication, unstable CVD), relative (congestive heart failure, CVD)
- Older kidney, donor had CVA/HTN/CKD; lasts for shorter period but better than dialysis
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Calcineurin inhibitors e.g. tacrolimus/cyclosporin, antimetabolites e.g. MMF
- Cellular (commonest) or antibody mediated, diagnosed with biopsy, treat with high dose steroids and increased tacrolimus/MMF
- Immune response from donor-specific antibodies damaging renal microcirculation
- Skin (melanoma), lymphoproliferative, gynaecological
- CMV - jaundice, hepatomegaly, widespread lymphadenopathy
20
Q
Glomerulonephritis - general
- Presentation
- Blood tests
- Non-blood investigations
- Management
- Commonest cause
A
- Nephrotic (podocyte damage/proteinuria from scarring) to nephritic (inflammation)
- FBC, U+E, LFT, CRP, blood film, ABG
- Urine (dip, protein and creatinine levels), CXR (pulmonary haemorrhage in anti-GBM), renal USS (size/anatomy for biopsy), renal biopsy (necessary for diagnosis)
- Treat cause (immunosuppression), BP monitoring, fluid control, consider transplant
- IgA nephropathy