Urological emergencies Flashcards
Acute urinary retention:
-what are the clinical features of this? 3
Clinical features: increasing pain, inability to urinate, complication of BPH
-can be spontaneous or precipitated
what is the aetiology of acute urinary retention? 5
poorly understood:
- prostate infection
- bladder overdistension
- excessive fluid intake
- alcohol
- prostatic infarction
What are the 5 precipitating factors for acute urinary retention?
- non-prostate relating surgery
- catheterisation
- urethral instrumentation
- anaeasthesia
- medication with sympathomimetic and anticholinergic effects
what is the treatment for acute urinary retention? when is it appropriate to trial without catheter during the same admission? What is useful to prescribe before TWOC to improve the chance of voiding?
- catheter
- if painful retention with <1litre of residue and normal serum electrolytes then TWOC during same admission
- prescribing a uroselective alpha blocker before TWOC improves chance of voiding (relaxes smooth muscle)
what is post-obstructive diuresis? what is the presentation? what is the treatment?
= diuresis due to solute diuresis from retained urea/sodium/water and defect in concentrating ability of kidney
Presentation: in pt.s with chronic bladder outflow obstruction in assoc. with uraemia/oedema/CCF/hypertension
Treatment: monitor fluid balance and beware if urine output > 200ml/hr. usually resolves in 24-48hrs but in severe cases may require IV fluid/Na+ replacement
Acute loin pain:
-what is the most common reason for this?
most commonly ureteric colic 2ndry to calculus
-pain mediated by prostaglandins released by ureter in response to obstruction
(remember it could be AAA)
What is the treatment of acute loin pain?
- NSAID +/- opiate
- alpha blocker for small stones expected to pass
What is the likelihood of spontaneous passage of stone:
- <4mm
- 4-6mm
- > 6mm
what does this depend on?
How long before a stone is likely to require intervention?
Spontaneous passage of stone:
<4mm - 80%
4-6mm - 59%
>6mm - 21%
depends on the site of the stone
if the stone hasn’t passed after one month it is likely to require intervention
What are the indications to treat a urinary calculus?
- pain unrelieved
- pyrexia
- persistant nausea/vomiting
What are the treatment options for a high grade obstruction?
- Ureteric stent/stone fragmentation or removal if no infection
- percutaneous nephrostomy for infected hydronephrosis
What are the differentials for frank haematuria?
- infection
- stones
- tumours
- BPH
- polycystic kidneys
- trauma
- coagulation or platelet deficiencies
What investigations are suitable for frank haematuria? what is the management for clot retention?
Investigations:
-CT urogram and cystoscopy
Clot retention: use a 3 way irrigating haematuria catheter
what are the 10 differentials for an acute scrotum?
- Torsion spermatic cord
- Appendix testis
- epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis
- inguinal hernia
- hydrocele
- trauma
- insect bite
- dermatological lesion
- inflammatory vasculitis
- tumour
What is the presentation of a spermatic cord torsion?
- most common at puberty
- can occur due to trauma/athletic activity but is usually spontaneous
- adolescent is usually awoken from sleep
what are the four symptoms of spermatic cord torsion?
- sudden onseet pain
- sometimes previous, self-limiting episodes of pain
- may be nausea/vomiting
- pain may be referred to the lower abdomen
what are the three signs of spermatic cord torsion? what may cause the obliteration of landmarks?
- testes high in scrotum
- transverse lie
- absence of cremasteric reflex
aqua-hydrocele and oedema may obliterate landmarks
What could be useful to investigate spermatic cord torsion?
doppler USS sometimes helpful
What is the treatment for spermatic cord torsion?
prompt exploration - irreversable ischaemic injury may begin as soon as 4 hours
- 2/3 point fixation with fine non-absorbable sutures
- if testes necrotic then remove
- must fix contralateral side (bell clapper deformity)
What is torsion of appendages? what symptoms are observed? what signs? Treatment?
this is torsion of appendages (developmental remnants)
Symptoms: variable, may be insidious or identical to torsion of testes
Signs: if seen early may have localised tenderness at upper pole and ‘blue dot’ sign. Testes should be mobile and cremasteric reflex present
Treatment: if diagnosis confirmed then it will resolve spontanously without surgery
Epididymitis: what is this and what are the clinical features? What signs indicate this?
Inflammation of epididymus
Features: rare in kids, difficult to distinguish from torsion, dysuria/pyrexia common, history of UTI/urethritis/catheterisation/instrumentation
Signs: cremasteric reflex present, suspect if pyuria