Urology Flashcards
What are some local clinical features of urological problems in children?
- Pain
- Changes in urine
- Abnormal voiding
- Mass
- Visible abnormalities
What is an inguinal hernia?
Herniation into the inguinal canal and potetntially scrotal sac, and is usually caused by a persistently patent processus vaginalis
99% are indirect hernias
What percentage of inguinal hernias are direct?
1%
How does an inguinal hernia present?
- Lump in the groin - which may extend into the scrotum
- Intermittent - visible during straining
-
Pain - if incarcerated - painful lump
- Intestinal obstruction
- Strangulation of testes
Who is more likely to develop an inguinal hernia; boys or girls?
Boys - 9:1
How would you manage an inguinal hernia?
-
< 1 year
- URGENT referral
- Repair - no place for observation
-
> 1 year
- Elective referral and repair
-
Incarcerated
- Reduce and repair on same admission
What is a hydrocele?
Due to a patent processus vaginalis which allows fluid to collect around the tesicle in the tunica vaginalis or within the cord
Same concept as a hernia, but passageway is much narrower
What guides the testes as they migrate down into the scrotum embryologically?
Mesenchymal gubernaculum
How would you distinguish a hydrocele from a inguinal hernia?
- Can you get above the swelling?
- Hydroceles normally tranilluminate
- Tend to be bluish in colour
How would you manage a hydrocele?
- Conservative - normally closes on it’s own
- Surgical - if it persists beyond 2 years
What is cryptorchidism?
Undescended testis
The abscence of one or both testes from the scrotum
Any testis that cannot be manipulated into the bottom half of the scrotum
What types of cryptorchidism are there?
- Retractile - Can pull down, but retract - strong chremasteric reflex - dartos muscle
- True cryptorchidism - Properly undescended
- Ectopic - wrong line of descent
- Ascending Testis
What are risk factors for developing cryptorchidism?
Prematurity
How would you investigate a suspected undescending testis?
-
Examination
- Warm room + Warm hands
- Testis may be felt in the scrotum/may need to be delivered
- Palpable testis - may be felt in the groin
What could be the cause of an impalpable testis?
- In the inguinal canal but cannot be identified
- Intra-abdominal
- Absent
- Atrophic
What is the difference between a retractile and undescended testis?
Retractile can be manipulated into the scrotum with ease and without tension
Activation of cremaster muscle pulls the testis up
How would you manage an undescended testis?
Orchidopexy
Why are orchidopexies performed to treat undescended testicles?
- Cosmetic
- Reduced tisk of torsion/trauma
- Fertility
- Risk of malignancy - greater if bilateral/intra-abdominal
What is an absolute indication for circumcision?
Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans
Lichen sclerosis of the penis
What are relative indications for circumcision?
- Balanoprosthitis
- Religious
- UTI
What are complications of circumcision?
- Bleeding
- Meatal stenosis
- Fistula
- Cosmetic
What is torsion of the testis?
Occurs when the spermatic cord (from which the testicle is suspended) twists, cutting off the testicle’s blood supply
What age range does testicular torsion occur most commonly in?
Post pubertal
How does testicular torsion present?
- Severe pain - may be localised to groin or lower abdomen
- Redness
- Swelling
What increases the risk of testicular torsion?
- Undescended testis
- Clapper bell testis - testis lying transversely on its atachement to the spermatic cord
How should you manage testicular torsion?
Treated ASAP - oterhwise very high risk of loss of testicle
- Scrotal exploration
- Testicular fixation - both testicles
What is the differential diagnosis for an acute scrotum?
- Torsion testis/torsion appendix testis
- Epididymitis
- Trauma
- Haematocele
- Incarcerated inguinal hernia
What is torsion of appendix testis?
The testicular appendage (hydatid of morgany), which is a mullerian (paramesonephric) remnant usually located on the upper pole of the testis. Torsion occurs when this becomes twisted
How does torsion of the appendix testis present?
- Pain - evolves over days
- Blue dot - seen through scrotal skin
How would you manage torsion of the appendix testis?
-
Scrotal exploration
- Can’t always tell it’s not testicular torsion
- If blue dot is present + Pain is controlled -> no need for surgery
Which is more common; torsion of the testis or torsion of the appendix testis?
Torsion of the appendix testis
What age group does torsion of the appendix testis most commonly affect??
Prepubertal boys
How does a UTI present in infants?
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Lethargy and irritability
- Poor feeding/faltering growth
- Jaundice
- Septicaemia
- Offensive urine
- Febrile seizure (> 6months)