Week 7 Flashcards
What is urolithiasis
Formation of stones in the urinary tract
Most common location of urolithiasis
Renal pelvis
Where can uroliths be found
Renal pelvis and calyces
Ureter (usually from kidney)
Bladder
Causes of bladder stones
Bladder outflow obstruction - urethral structure, prostate obstruction, neurogenic bladder
Foreign body e.g catheter or non absorbable sutures
Passed down form upper tract
Symptoms of bladder stones
Anuria
Painful bladder distension (urinary retention)
What are nephroliths
Solid materials formed in kidneys from minerals and urine
Types of nephroliths
99% calcium stones - calcium oxolate, calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite
1% other - drug, cysteine, ammonium acid urate
Causes of nephrolithiasis
Urine supersaturation
Urine stasis
Drugs
Congenital e.g polycystic kidney
What are Randall’s plaques
Calcium oxolate stones growing on interstitial deposits of calcium phosphate e.g renal papillae, ducts of Bellini, free in solution
What is urine supersaturation
Solvent contains more solute than it can hold so crystals form by nucleation
Broad cause of urine supersaturation
Low water content - dehydration
High mineral content
Low solubility of solute
What alters solubility of solute in urine
Urine pH
Consequences of acidic or alkaline urine
Acid - favours calcium oxolate and uric acid stone formation
Alkaline - favours calcium phosphate stone formation
What is renal tubular acidosis
Persistently alkaline urine and increased citrate excretion
Leads to calcium phosphate stone formation
What senses serum Ca
Parathyroid glands
Kidneys
Brain