urinary stones Flashcards
What are the causes of urinary stones?
- Vitamin A deficiency
- dehydration -> precipitation of solutes
- reduction of urinary colloids
- decreased urinary citrate (keeps calcium in solution in solution form)
- renal infection -> streptococci
- urinary stasis & inadequate urinary drainage
- prolonged immobilization
- hyperparathyroidism
What are the etiologies of calcium oxalate stones?
- hypercalcemia
- hyperoxaluria
- increased intake of ethylene glycol or vitamin C
- inflammatory bowel disease due to malabsorption
will decrease urine pH
radio-opaque
What are the types of urinary stones?
- CALCIUM OXALATE -> irregular & sharp -> hard & radiodense
- PHOSPHATE CALCULI -> stag horn calculus -> grows in alkaline urine (Proteus) -> presents with hematuria, urinary infection, or renal failure
- URIC ACID & URATE CALCULI -> multifaceted -> CT to distinguish them
- CYSTINE CALCULUS -> cystinuria (congenital) -> grow to form a cast of the collecting system -> radio-opaque & very hard
What is the first indication if bilateral silent calculi?
Renal failure
- secondary infection produces symptoms
Dull pain in the renal angle or the hypochondrium or both & radiates to the back, with movement making it worse is diagnostic for?
RENAL PAIN
- stretching of kidney capsule
Agonizing colicky pain passing from the loin to groin that usually lasts for 8 hours & causes tachycardia is diagnostic for?
URETERIC COLIC
- stone in ureter or stuck at pelviureteric junction
- patients vomit from severity of pain
What are the clinical features of urinary stones?
- renal pain or ureteric colic
- haematuria
- pyuria -> dangerous when kidney is obstructed -> septicemia can develop quickly
- > could be caused by stones irritating the urothelium in the absence of infection
What are the clinical features of renal destruction?
- pyonephrosis
- pyelonephritis
- hydronephrosis
What are the clinical features of pelvi-ureteric obstruction?
- Renal colic
- total hematuria
- hydronephrosis
- pyelonephritis
What are the clinical features of bladder irritation?
- terminal hematuria
- frequency
- suprapubic dull pain made worse by bladder filling
What are the clinical features of vesico-ureteric obstructions?
- Renal colic
- total hematuria
- hydronephrosis
What the the clinical features of bladder outflow obstruction?
- acute retention
- terminal hematuria
What will be witnessed on the abdominal examination of a patient with a urinary stone?
- during a ureteric colic attack -> rigidity MAY be present
- tenderness on gentle deep palpation
- hydronephrosis or pyonephrosis -> palpable loin swelling (rare)
- renal punch (percussion over the kidney) -> stabbing pain
How is the KUB film taken & what will it show?
Kidney, ureter, bladder x-ray
- patient must be prepared well -> enema, laxative is given the previous day & patient is asked to fast to reduce bowel gas
- an opacity relative to urinary tract (on lateral x-ray will be ON or POSTERIOR to vertebral body)
- calcified mesenteric nodes & opacities within the gut is anterior to vertebral bodies on lateral x-rays
What is the best method of investigation to detect a urinary stone?
CT (helical CTU)
- can identify other causes of non-stone flank pain
How should renal colic be managed?
PAIN RELIEF
- NSAIDS
HYDRATION
WATCHFUL WAITING
- if stone is 5mm or less
- alpha-blockers (ZOSINS)
What are the indications for intervention?
- pain that fails to respond to analgesics
- associated fever
- renal function is impaired
- obstruction unrelieved for 4 weeks
- personal or occupational reasons