Urology - conditions Flashcards
Epididymitis pathophysiology
Usually caused by local extension of infection from the lower urinary tract either via enteric or non-enteric organisms
In males < 35 years old = sexual transmission therefore most common organisms are N. gonorrhoeae & C. trachomatis
In males > 35 years old = enteric organisms from a UTI is the more likely mechanism of the disease
Epididymitis risk factors
Non-enteric causes = MSM, multiple sexual partners/known contact of gonorrhoea
Enteric causes = recent instrumentation/catherisation, bladder outlet obstruction/an immunocompromised state
Epididymitis clinical features
Unilateral scrotal pain & associated swelling
Associated symptoms – dysuria, storage LUTS, urethral discharge
Examination – red & swollen, very tender
Cremasteric reflex which is intact in cases of epididymitis & Prehn’s sign (supine & scrotum is elevated by the examiner -> relieved by elevation)
Epididymitis investigations
Urine dipstick
First-void urine should be collected and sent for NAAT for suspected non-enteric epididymitis
Routine bloods
Imaging – typically a clinical one, however USS of the testes can be useful to confirm the diagnosis & rule out any complication
Epididymitis management
Appropriate abx therapy and provided with sufficient analgesia
- Enteric organisms: ofloxacin 200mg PO BD for 14 days/levofloxacin 500mg BD for 10 days
- STI organisms: ceftriaxone 500mg IM single dose and doxycycline 100mg PO twice daily for 10-14 days
Abstain from sexual activity
Epididymitis complications
Reactive hydrocele formation
Abscess formation
Testicular infarction
Testicular cancer risk factors
Cryptorchidism
Previous testicular malignancy
A positive family history
Caucasian ethnicity
Kleinfelter’s syndrome
Testicular cancer clinical features
Unilateral painless testicular lump
Examination – mass is typically irregular, firm, fixed & does not transilluminate
Evidence of metastasis – weight loss, back pain or dyspnoea
Testicular cancer investigations
Tumour markers can be used for both diagnostic and prognostic means – beta-hCG, AFP, LDH
Scrotal ultrasound
Disease staged via CT imaging with contrast
Trans-scrotal percutaneous biopsy should not be performed – might cause seeding of the cancer
Testicular cancer management
Discussed in a specialist MDT
Main treatment options for testicular cancer are surgery, radiotherapy & chemotherapy
Most cases – inguinal radical orchidectomy
Testicular torsion pathophysiology
Mobile testis rotates on the spermatic cord
Leads to reduced arterial blood flow, impaired venous return, venous congestion, resultant oedema & infarction to the testis
Males with a horizontal lie to their testes are more prone to developing testicular torsion
Testicular torsion risk factors
Age
Previous testicular torsion
Family history of testicular torsion
Undescended testes
Testicular torsion clinical features
Sudden onset severe unilateral testicular pain, associated N&V
Examination – testis will have a high position with a horizontal lie
Cremasteric reflex is absent & negative Prehn’s sign
Testicular torsion management
Surgical emergency – urgent surgical exploration of the testis
Strong analgesia and anti-emetics
Torsion in confirmed intra-operatively = bilateral orchidopexy
Testis is non-viable = an orchidectomy may be warranted
Testicular torsion complications
Delay in surgical exploration leading to prolonged ischaemia can result in testicular infarction
Affected testis may later undergo atrophy
Surgical complications – chronic pain, palpable suture, risk to future fertility & theoretical risk of future torsion
Bladder cancer risk factors
Smoking
Increasing age
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Schistosomiasis infection
Previous radiation to the pelvis
Bladder cancer clinical features
Painless haematuria
May also present with recurrent UTIs/LUTS
Clinical examination is typically unremarkable
Bladder cancer investigations
Urgent cystoscopy – initially via a flexible cystoscopy under local anaesthetic
If suspicion is identified -> rigid cystoscopy will be required for more definitive assessment
- Any tumour identified will require biopsy & potential resection via transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT)
Imaging – CT staging
Urine cytology
Stress UI pathophysiology
Urine leakage occurring when the intra-abdominal pressure exceeds the urethral pressure
Impaired urethral support is most often due to weakness of the pelvic floor muscle
Most commonly seen post-partum, risk factors include constipation, obesity, post-menopausal/pelvic surgery
Urge UI pathophysiology
Overactive bladder (detrusor hyperactivity), which leads to uninhibited bladder contraction, leading to a rise in intravesical pressure -> leakage of urine
May be due to neurogenic causes, infection, malignancy, idiopathic, cholinesterase inhibitors
Overflow UI pathophysiology
Normally a complication of chronic urinary retention
Progressive stretching of the bladder wall leads to damage to the efferent fibres of the sacral reflex & loss of bladder sensation
As bladder fills with urine, becomes grossly distended, however intravesicular pressure builds, leading to a constant dribbling of urine
Most common cause is from prostatic hyperplasia
UI investigations
Midstream urine dipstick assessing for evidence of infection or haematuria
Post void bladder scans should also be performed routinely
Further investigations
- Unclear aetiology: urodynamic assessment
- Outflow urodynamics can then be performed
- Cystoscopy
- IV urogram
- Vaginal speculum examination
- MRI imaging
UI conservative management
Pelvic floor muscle training which should ideally last for at least 3 months, duloxetine can be trialled to cause stronger urethral contractions
Urge UI – anti-muscarinic drugs can be trialled (eg. oxybutynin or tolterodine)
Bladder training
UI surgical management
Urge UI – botulinum toxin A injections, percutaneous sacral nerve stimulation, augmentation cystoplasty, urinary diversion via ileal conduit
Stress UI – tension-free vaginal tape, open colposuspension, intramural bulking agents or an artificial urinary sphincter
Urethritis
Inflammation of the urethra most often due to infection
Either gonococcal or non-gonococcal
Urethritis risk factors
Age < 25 years
Men who have sex with men
Previous STI
Recent new sexual partner
More than one partner in the last year
Urethritis clinical features
Dysuria
Penile irritation
Discharge from urethral meatus
Urethritis investigations
Urethral gram stain under microscopy should be performed on urethral swabs – pus cells suggest urethritis
Gold standard investigation – first-void urine being sent for NAAT
Should also have mid-stream urine dipstick performed, triple site testing for culture
Consider further STI screening
Semen culture
Urethritis initial management
Abx management is the mainstay of initial management
- Gonococcal: ceftriaxone 1g IM single dose + azithromycin 1g PO single dose
- Non-gonococcal: doxycycline 100mg PO BD for 7 days/azithromycin 1g PO single dose
Urethritis long term management
Abstain from sexual activity for 7 days after abx course has finished, resolved symptoms & sexual partners have been treated
Counsel patients on condom use & advise patient to notify their sexual partners to attend GUM clinic for testing and treatment
Pyelonephritis
Inflammation of the kidney parenchyma and the renal pelvis, typically due to bacterial infection
Uncomplicated or complicated
Pyelonephritis pathophysiology
Acute pyelonephritis – results from bacterial infection of the renal pelvis and parenchyma
Bacteria can reach the kidney either by ascending from the lower urinary tract, from the blood stream or via lymph
Neutrophils cause suppurative inflammation -> often small renal cortical abscesses and streaks of pus in the renal medulla
Most common organism isolated is Escherichia coli
Pyelonephritis risk factors
1) Factors reducing antegrade flow of urine – obstructed urinary tract, including BPH
2) Factors promoting retrograde ascent of bacteria – female gender, indwelling catheter/ureteric stents, structural renal abnormalities
3) Factors predisposing to infection or immunocompromise
4) Factors promoting bacterial colonisation – renal calculi, sexual intercourse, oestrogen depletion