Urologic Emergencies ER Med Flashcards
Acute scrotal pain
DDx? 4
- Testicular torsion
- Appendiceal torsion
- Epididymitis
- Testicular rupture
For Urologic emergencies what should our physical exam consist of? 6
- Detailed exam of the abdomen
- Exam of the testes, epididymis, cord and scrotal skin
- Prehn’s sign? Lifting of testicle on affected side relieves pain? + more likely epididymitis
- Exam of inguinal region
- Cremasteric reflex
- Possible digital rectal exam to check prostate
Work up: For UE? 2
- UA and culture
2. Color Doppler ultrasound
Testicular torsion is a urologic emergency
- History? 2
- Pain where? 3
- Symptoms? 4
- History:
- sudden onset severe pain.
- Possible inciting event (trauma) or may occur spontaneously - lower abdominal pain,
- inguinal canal or
- testes
- Symptoms:
- Pain is not positional, can be constant or intermittent
- Pain is sudden in onset
- May awaken in the middle of the night with pain
- May have associated nausea and vomiting
Physical exam suggestive of testicular torsion
6
- High-riding (elevated) testis on the affected side
- Early on may have significant swelling
- Epididymis may be displaced and not found in it’s normal posterolateral position
- Testicle is firm
- Exquisite tenderness
- Cremasteric reflex is usually absent
Diagnostic evaluation for TT?
Color Doppler US of the testicle
-can determine if there is intratesticular flow but if sure of the diagnosis don’t wait to call urologist
Treatment of testicular torsion
2
- Emergent urologic consultation and surgery
2. Potential for manual detorsion
TT: Potential for manual detorsion
- Painful?
- Twist laterally “like what?
- May need to twist up to____ degrees
- If successful, prognosis?
- Still needs to have what? 2
- yes!
- opening a book”
- 720
- can give excellent relief of pain
- surgical exploration and
- orchiopexy
Epididymitis may be acute or chronic
- Signs of acute? 5
- Chronic? 4
Acute
- 6 weeks
- Subtle epididymal induration and tenderness
- No irritative voiding symptoms
- +/- inguinal lymphadenopathy
Epididymitis: Physical exam
4
- Tenderness posterior and lateral to the testis
- DRE to evaluate for prostatic involvement if history suggests
- In acute cases may have swelling with a reactive hydrocele (epididymo-orchitis)
- May have a positive Prehn’s sign
Epididymitis: Work Up
5
- UA and urine culture,
- test for GC and chlamydia if applicable
- Urethral swab if discharge present
- Rule out other causes of scrotal pain
- Get an ultrasound to rule out torsion if acute in onset
Infectious Epididymitis: Treatment
Younger Men less than 35
- Etiology?
- Tx?
- If septic needs what?
Older men or history of BPH, Urethral stricture, chronic UTI
- Etiology?
- Tx?
- What kind of management?
- Consider GC and Chlamydia
- Ceftriaxone 250mg IM and Azithro 1000mg/Doxy 100mg BID x 10 days
- Needs to be hospitalized for IV hydration and abs
- Consider enteric gram - bacteria
- Levaquin 500mg qday X10 days
- OUtpatient
Epididymitis symptomatic treatment
3
- NSAIDs
- Scrotal elevation
- Ice
Inflammatory Epididymitis
- Risk factors? 5
- May be secondary to what?
- Presentation?
- Tx?
- Risk factors:
- medication reaction,
- prolonged sitting,
- vigorous exercise,
- trauma,
- autoimmune disease - May be secondary to a reflux of urine within the ejaculatory ducts
- Presentation: progressive, gradual onset of pain
- Treatment:
Scrotal elevation, warm baths, NSAIDs
Appendiceal (appendix testis) torsion
What is this?
- The appendix testis is a small appendage of normal tissue that is usually located on the upper portion of the testis.
- Torsion of an appendage occurs when this tissue twists.
Torsion of the appendiceal testis
- What ages commonly?
- Symptoms? 4
- Dx?
- Epidemiology: Most cases occur between age 7-14YO
- Symptoms:
- Gradual onset of pain
- Reactive hydrocele—which may transilluminate
- Localized tenderness
- Examination of scrotal wall may reveal classic “blue dot” sign (a tender blue or black spot beneath the skin) - Dx: US shows torsed appendage as a lesion of low echogoenicity with a central hypoechogenic area
Torsion of the appendiceal testis
- Conservative tx? 3
- Surgical
- When?
- When do pts usually resume normal activity?
Conservative:
- Rest, ice and NSAIDs
- Recovery is slow and with discomfort
- The infarcted tissue is usually reabsorbed
- Surgical:
- Excision of the appendix testis, while not necessary, is safe and quick, usually reserved for continued pain
- Patients can usually resume normal activity without pain in a few days
Testis Rupture
- What is it?
- When is it seen?
- Main symptoms? 3
- Rip or tear in the tunica albuginea resulting in extrusion of testicular contents
- Seen in blunt or penetrating trauma- Rare in sports
- Main symptoms
- Scrotal swelling
- Severe pain
- Ecchymosis
Testis Rupture
- Dx?
- Tx? 3
- Diagnostics
Scrotal ultrasound - Treatment
- Referral to Urologist for scrotal exploration
- Pain management
- IV
Other causes of scrotal pain
6
- Trauma—with possible testicular rupture
- Strangulated hernia—usually abnormal abdominal exam
- Post-vasectomy problems
- Mumps
- Testicular cancer
- Kidney stone
Priapism
- What is it?
- Occurs how?
- Definition: erection unrelated to stimulation lasting typically longer then 4 h
- Occurs by trapping of blood in the erectile bodies which can result in ischemia and infarction
Priapism can be ischemic or non-ischemic
- What makes them different?
- Nonischemic is from what?
1. Ischemic -Most common, painful Non-ischemic -Rare, painful,
- usually from development of a traumatic A/V fistula between cavernosal artery and corpus cavernosum
What are two common causes to remember with priapism?
- Sickle cell dz
2. Iatrogenic (injections often)