Urology Flashcards
What are the presenting symptoms and signs of kidney stones?
- Sudden onset colicky flank pain, usually unilateral sometimes radiating to lateral abdomen, groin, testicle or labia
- Often assoc with nausea and vomiting
- Gross haematuria and decreased urinary output may occur
What are the most common types of kidney stones? (5)
Calcium oxalate Mixed calcium oxalate/phosphate Calcium phosphate Struvite Uric acid
How is renal colic investigated? (4)
- Blood: FBE, UEC, uric acid, calcium
- MSU MC&S Dipstick urinalysis
- CT KUB +/- X-ray KUB
- Consider IV pyelogram
What is the danger in only using an X-ray in investigating renal colic? (2)
Only calcium containing stones are visible on plain KUB X-ray
Calcification may not arise from a calculi by may be due to calcified mesenteric lymph nodes or from the wall of the abdominal aorta
What is involved in the conservative management of renal colic?
Majority of stones will pass spontaneously
NSAIDs
What are the indications for surgical removal of kidney stones? (6)
- Renal failure
- Stones + fever (pyelonephrosis)
- Stone greater than 6mm, unlikely to pass spontaneously
- Single kidney
- Unremitting pain
- Occupational/social - Patients where colic could be disaster (e.g. pilots)
List 6 complications of renal calculi
- Renal colic
- Pyelonephritis
- UTI
- Urinary retention and hydronephrosis
- Development of bladder stones
- Long-term irritation may predispose to squamous carcinoma
What surgical interventions are available for renal calculi?
Shock wave lithotripsy
Perutaneous nephrolithotripsy - for stones larger than 2 cm, staghorn calculi
What measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood of nephrolithiasis recurring? (5)
Dependent on composition of stone
- Increase fluid intake
- Avoid added salt, maintaining well balanced diet
- Calcium phosphate - thiazides, low Calcium diet (reduce milk and cheese consumption)
- Oxalate - reduce chocolate, tea, rhubarb, spinach
- Urate - allopurinol, urinary alkalinisation
What are the 3 most likely sites of renal calculi obstruction?
- Pelvicoureteric junction
- Vesicoureteric junction
- Ureter crossing into pelvic brim
What are the most common organisms that cause UTIs? (4)
- E.coli
- Proteus mirabilis
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Strep faecalis
What are the clinical features of pyelonephritis?
Pyrexia, loin pain, dysuria, frequency
How is pyelonephritis investigated?
Dipstick and MSU MCS
FBE
How is mild pyelonephritis defined and treated?
Low-grade fever, no N & V
For empirical therapy while awaiting results of cultures and susceptibility - amox+clavul OR cephalexing OR trimethoprim
How is severe pyelonephritis treated?
Gentamicin IV + amox
What complication can occur with acute pyelonephritis? How will this be managed?
Pyonephrosis - occurs if coexisting upper tract obstruction
Requires urgent decompression usually by percutaneous nephrostomy; if inadequately treated, can result in perinephric abscess
Which cells do renal cell carcinomas arise from?
Proximal tubule cell
What are the clinical features of renal cell carcinoma? (4)
- 10% present with classical triad of haematuria, loin pain and a mass
- Others - pyrexia of unknown origin, hypertension
- Polycythaemia due to EPO production
- Hypercalcaemia due to production of PTH like hormone
How is renal cell carcinoma investigated? (2)
- Diagnosis often confirmed by renal US
2. CT scanning allows assessment of renal vein and caval spread
What can blood borne spread of renal cell carcinoma result in ?
Cannonball pulmonary metastases