Urology Flashcards
What are the causes of lower urinary tract symptoms
BPH
UTI
Urological malignancy
Detrusor muscle weakness/instability
Chronic prostatitis
Urethral strictures
External compression
Neurological disease
Drinking fluids late at night
Alcohol excess
Excess caffeine intake
Polyuria
What are the classifications of lower urinary tract symptoms
Storage symptoms: urgency, frequency, nocturia, urge incontinence
Voiding symptoms: bladder outflow obstruction, hesitancy, intermittency, straining, terminal dribbling, incomplete emptying
What additional symptoms should be asked about in a lower urinary tract symptoms history
Visible haematuria
Suprapubic discomfort
Colicky pain
Medications: anticholinergics, antihistamines, bronchodilators
What investigations are needed for lower urinary tract symptoms
Post-void bladder scan
Flow rate
Urinalysis
Urine culture
Routine bloods (+ PSA)
Urodynamic studies (flow rate, detrusor pressure, storage capacity)
Cystoscopy (recent infection, haematuria)
Upper urinary tract imaging (chronic infections, recent infection, haematuria)
What is the management for lower urinary tract symptoms
Treat underlying cause
Regulate fluid intake
Urethral milking
Double voiding
Pelvic floor exercises (stress incontinence)
Bladder training (urge incontinence)
Anticholinergics (oxybutynin, for urge incontinence)
Alpha blockers (tamsulosin, for BPH)
Loop diuretics (take mid-afternoon to prevent nocturia)
What is the urgent referral criteria for haematuria
> 45: unexplained visible haematuria without UTI/despite successful treatment of UTI
> 60: unexplained non-visible haematuria with dysuria/raised WCC
What are the causes of haematuria
UTI
Urothelial carcinoma
Stone disease
Adenocarcinoma of prostate
BPH
Infection (pyelonephritis, cystitis, prostatitis)
Malignancy
Renal calculli
Trauma
Recent surgery
Radiation cystitis
What investigations are needed for haematuria
Urinalysis
Bloods (routine + clotting + PSA)
Flexible cystoscopy
US KUB
CT urogram
What is acute urinary retention
New onset inability to pass urine
Leads to pain, discomfort, and significant residual volume
Most common in older males (BPH)
What are the causes of acute urinary retention
BPH
Urethral strictures
Prostate cancer
Urinary tract infection
Constipation
Severe pain
Anti-muscarinics
Peripheral neuropathy, iatrogenic nerve damage, upper motor neurone disease
How might acute urinary retention present
Acute suprapubic pain
Inability to micturate
Symptoms predisposing to retention: UTI, change in medication, LUTS
Palpable distended bladder
What investigations are needed for acute urinary retention
PR
Post-void bladder scan
Bloods
Catheterised specimen of urine
Ultrasound (hydronephrosis)
What is the management for acute urinary retention
Urethral catheterisation
Treat underlying cause
Antibiotics if have UTI
Medication review
What is chronic urinary retention
Painless inability to pass urine
Significant bladder distension
What are the causes of chronic urinary retention
BPH
Urethral strictures
Prostate cancer
Pelvic prolapse
Large fibroids
Peripheral neuropathies
Motor neurone disease
How might chronic urinary retention present
Painless urinary retention
Voiding LUTS
Reduced functional capacity
May have overflow incontinence
Palpable distended bladder
No/minimal tenderness
What investigations are needed for chronic urinary retention
DRE
Post-void bladder scan
Bloods
Ultrasound (if have high-pressure retention)
What is the management for chronic urinary retention
High volumes (>1 L): long-term catheterisation, monitor urine output
Do not TWOC (likely to get renal injury)
What investigations are needed for scrotal lumps
Ultrasound scrotum
Tumour markers for testicular cancer (LDH, AFP, beta-HCG)
Give an overview of hydrocele
Abnormal collection of peritoneal fluid between parietal and visceral layers of tunica vaginalis
Presentation: painless fluctuant swelling, transilluminates, unilateral/bilateral, discomfort on sitting/walking if very large
Neonates: regresses spontaneously within a couple of years
Infants: due to patent processus vaginalis, needs ligation
In 20-40s: need urgent ultrasound
Give an overview of varicocoele
Abnormal dilation of pampiniform venous plexus
Bag of worms
Disappears on lying flat
90% on left side (left spermatic vein drains directly into left renal vein)
Can cause infertility and testicular atrophy
Red flags: acute onset, right sided, remains when lying flat
If asymptomatic, no treatment needed
Surgery: embolisation, ligation of spermatic vein
Give an overview of epidermal cyst
Spermatocele
Benign, fluid-filled sac arising from epidermis
Presentation: smooth fluctuant nodule, above and separate to testis, transilluminates, common in middle aged men
Do not usually need treatment
Surgery if very large or painful
Avoid surgery in young men, causes infertility
Give an overview of epididymitis
Inflammation of epididymis
Presentation: unilateral acute onset scrotal pain, swelling, erythematous overlying skin, systemic symptoms, tender
Pain relieved by elevation of testis (Prehn’s sign)
Give an overview of testicular tumours
Painless lump in testis
Firm, irregular mass
Does not transilluminate
Most common malignancy in 20-40 men
Urgent ultrasound
Tumour markers
May need radical inguinal orchidectomy
Give an overview of testicular torsion
Twisting of testis on spermatic cord
Leads to ischaemia
Presentation: sudden onset severe unilateral scrotal pain, may have nausea and vomiting
Mostly in pubescent boys
Bell-clapper deformity: high attachment of tunica vaginalis allows for rotation
Examination: very tender, testis raised, swelling, loss of cremasteric reflex
Surgical emergency: surgical exploration and fixation of both testes
What are some benign testicular lesions
Leydig cell tumours
Sertoli cell tumours
Lipomas
Fibromas
Give an overview of orchitis
Inflammation of testis
Usually associated with mumps
Need rest and analgesia
If have intra-testicular abscess: drainage, may need orchidectomy
What are the 2 types of renal cysts
Simple: well-defined outline, homogenous features, common in elderly, develop from renal tubule epithelium
Complex: complicated structure (thick wall, septation, calcification), risk of malignancy
What are the risk factors for renal cysts
Increasing age
Smoking
Hypertension
M>F
Genetic conditions (polycystic kidney disease - autosomal dominant, PKD1/2)
How might renal cysts present
Usually incidental finding
Usually asymptomatic
Flank pain (if ruptured/infected)
Haematuria
In polycystic disease: uncontrolled HTN, flank mass
What investigations are needed for renal cysts
U&Es
CT/MRI
What is the Bosniak scoring system
For risk of renal cysts being malignant
Stage 1: simple, 1% malignancy, no follow up
Stage 2: complex, 3% malignancy, no follow up
Stage 2F: complex, 5% malignancy, CT scan at 3,6, 12 months
Stage 3: complex, 50-70% malignancy, surveillance or surgery
Stage 4: complex, 90-100% malignancy, surgery
What are renal tract calculi
Renal/ureteric stones
Males > 65
Mostly calcium (calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, mixed)
Can be struvite or cystine
What is the criteria for admission in renal tract calculi
Post-obstructive AKI
Uncontrollable pain on simple analgesia
Evidence of infection
Large (>5cm)
What are the likely sites of impaction of renal tract calculi
Pelviureteric junction (PUJ)
Crossing pelvic brim
Vesicoureteric junction (VUJ)
How might renal tract calculi present
Sudden onset severe pain
Loin to groin
Ureteric colic
Nausea and vomiting
Haematuria
What investigations are needed for renal tract calculi
Urine dip
Bloods (+ urate + calcium)
Non-contrast CT (gold standard)
Ultrasound (for hydronephrosis)
What is the management for renal tract calculi
A to E
Most pass stones spontaneously
Analgesia
If infection, IV antibiotics
Stent insertion
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Flexible uretero-renoscopy
What is pyelonephritis
Inflammation of kidney parenchyma and renal pelvis
15 - 29s
Complicated: structurally and functionally normal urinary tract, non-immunocompromised
Complicated: structurally or functionally abnormal urinary tract, immunocompromised host
UTIs in males always complicated
What are the common causative organisms of pyelonephritis
E coli
Klebsiella
Proteus
Staph aureus
Psuedomonas
What are the risk factors for pyelonephritis
Obstructed urinary tract
Spinal cord injury
F>M
Indwelling catheter
Ureteric stents
Structural renal abnormality
Diabetes, untreated HIV
Corticosteroid use
Renal calculi
Menopause
How might pyelonephritis present
Classic triad: fever, unilateral loin pain, nausea and vomiting
Usually develops over 24-48 hrs
Symptoms of UTI
Haematuria
Pyrexia
Costovertebral angle tenderness
Suprapubic tenderness
Post-void residual volume
What investigations are needed for pyelonephritis
Urinalysis
Bloods
Renal ultrasound
CT (if suspect obstruction)
What is the management for pyelonephritis
A to E
IV empirical antibiotics
Fluids
Analgesia
Antiemetics
Catheterisation
Consider HDU monitoring in severe cases
What are some types of renal cancer
Renal cell carcinoma (most common)
Transitional cell carcinoma
Wilm’s tumour
Squamous cell carcinoma