Genitourinary D+M Flashcards
Causes of enlarged kidney
Bilaterally enlarged, ballotable kidneys can occur in polycystic kidney disease or amyloidosis.
A unilaterally enlarged, ballotable kidney can be caused by a renal tumour.
urolithiasis
Renal calculi are formed when urine is supersaturated with salt and minerals such as calcium oxalate, uric acid and cystine.
Vary in size from gravel like to large staghorn calculi
May stay in position where they formed, or can move down urinary tract causing symptoms
Another factor leading to formation is formation of randall’s plaques. Calcium oxalate precipitates form in the basement membrane of thin loops of henle; these eventually accumulate in subepithelial space of renal papillae, leading to Randall’s plaque and eventually a calculus.
Male:female 3:1
Peak age for stones developing is 30-50 years old
Bladder calculi
Bladder calculi account for 5% urinary tract stones and usually occur because of foreign bodies, obstruction or infection.
Most common cause is urinary stasis from failure to empty, from bladder outflow obstruction
Urolithiasis risk factors
Anatomical anomalies in urinary tract - horseshoe kidney, urethral stricture etc Family history HTN Gout Hyperparathyroidism Immobilisation Dehydration Metabolic disorders - chronic metabolic acidosis, hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria Deficiency of citrate in urine Cystinuria Drugs: diuretics like triamterene and calcium or vitamin D supplements Hot climates Higher socio-economic status
Urolithiasis presentation
Asymptomatic in many cases
Renal colic: sudden severe pain starting at loin moving to the groin with tenderness of loin or renal angle
Pain is sharp and more constant than intestinal colic, with dull pain as periods of relief
Tends to ‘writhe around in agony’
Sometimes with haematuria
If stone is high, pain can be in flank but as stone moves down pain moves anteriorly towards groin
Stones moving cause greater pain than static ones
Pain can radiate towards testis, scrotum, labia or anterior thigh
Rigors and fever
Dysuria
Urinary retention
Nausea and vomiting
Urolithiasis investigations
Abdominal exam
Stick testing of urine for haematuria, white cells and nitrites (both suggest infection) and pH (>7 suggests urea-splitting organisms, <5 suggests uric acid stones)
Midstream specimen for microscopy
Bloods: FBC, CRP, renal function, electrolytes, calcium, phosphate and urate, creatinine
Prothrombin time and INR if intervention planned
Urgent CT
USS for pregnant women, children and young people
KUB and AXR
Stone analysis: suggests for all first times, all those with recurrent stones and those who’ve had late recurrence after long time stone-free period
Urolithiasis management
Prevention advice: increase fluid intake to maintain UO at 2-3 L/day, reduce salt intake, reduce meat and animal protein, reduce oxalate intake (chocolate, rhubarb, nuts) and urate rich foods (offal, certain fish), drink cranberry juice, maintain Ca intake as normal, depending on stone can be given medications to help prevent such as thiazide diuretics for calcium stones, allopurinol for uric acid stones and calcium citrate for oxalate stones Hospitalisation for systemic features (fever), known non-functioning kidney, solitary kidney, persistent pain, dehydration, anuria, pregnancy, >60 years with concerns on clinical condition Urgent outpatient appointment: pain relieved, able to drink large volumes, no complications evident NSAIDs or paracetamol for analgesia (NSAIDs thought best first line for pain) Antiemetics and rehydration therapy PRN Majority of stones pass spontaneously within 1-3 weeks; those who have not passed stone in that time or have continuing symptoms need monitoring weekly for progression CCB (nifedipine) or alpha-blockers (tamsulosin) given for medical expulsive therapy >3 weeks to facilitate stone passage Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is noninvasive procedure to break up stones Surgery for stones that will not pass or there are signs of obstruction. Includes ESWL, PCNL, ureteroscopy and open surgery
Urolithiasis complications and prevention
Complete obstruction can cause irreversible kidney damage if >48 hours
Symptomatic >4 weeks there is 20% risk of complications like deterioration of renal function, sepsis and ureteric stricture
Infection
Pyelonephritis
prevention:
Increase oral fluid intake and reduce calcium intake
Correct metabolic abnormalities
Treat infections UTI promptly
Urinary alkalinisation eg sodium bicarbonate 5-10g/24hour PO in water (for cystine and urate stones)
Male lower UTI and risk factors
Infection of any part of the urinary tract
Usually caused by bacteria (80% E coli)
UTI less common in men than women but higher in elderly men
Risk factors: BPH and other obstruction to urinary flow (strictures, stones etc) Catheterisation Previous UTI Immunocompromised state
Lower UTI presentation
Dysuria Frequency Urgency Change in urine appearance or odor Nocturia Suprapubic discomfort Delirium Reduced functional ability
Lower UTI investigations
male:
Urine culture and sensitivity (DIAGNOSTIC)
Urine dipstick or microscopy
female:
Urine dipstick (nitrites and leukocytes and RBC high or normal)
Urine culture for pregnancy, >65 years, persistent symptoms, recurrent UTI, catheterised, VH or NVH
Male lower UTI management
Hospitalisation for nausea and vomiting, confusion, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypotension
Empirical antibiotic treatments: trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin (CAN COLOUR URINE RED) 7 days (3 days for women) for non-catheterised or pivmecillinam 2nd line or cefalexin
Follow up in 48 hours; if not improving review sensitivity and use narrow spectrum AB where possible
Refer to urology if needed: ongoing symptoms despite treatment, underlying causes suspected or recurrent episodes (>2 in last 6 months)
Consider trial of daily antibiotics prophylaxis - trimethoprim 100mg at night or nitrofurantoin at night first line
Female lower UTI management
Simple lower UTI:
Self care: analgesia and hydration
Antibiotics (delayed script for mild cases non-pregnancy) nitrofurantoin (CAN COLOUR URINE RED) 50mg QDS 3 days (7 days in men)
Persistent haematuria after treatment must be followed up for underlying causes
Refer unknown causes of recurrent UTI, if catheterised or malignancy suspected
Hygiene, topical vaginal oestrogen and antibiotic prophylaxis can be considered
Pregnancy:
Asymptomatic or suspected UTI treated promptly with 7 day course antibiotics and followed up - first line nitrofurantoin (50mg QDS 3 days - CAN COLOUR URINE RED)
Amoxicillin, cephalexin can be 2nd line if symptoms don’t improve within 48 hours of 1st line
Consider ‘back up’ prescription that can only be taken in 48 hours if symptoms do not improve
Urgent specialist advice for recurrent UTI, catheter associated, atypical pathogens or underlying cause suspected
Antenatal services following treatment of UTI must be followed up
During term of pregnancy CANNOT be prescribed nitrofurantoin as causes neonatal haemolysis
Trimethoprim CI in pregnancy (teratogenic risk)
Pyelonephritis
Infection within renal pelvis usually accompanied by infection within renal parenchyma
Source of infection is often ascending infection from the bladder
Causative organisms are same for lower UTI: e coli, klebsiella, proteus, enterococcus etc
Repeated attacks of acute pyelonephritis can lead to chronic pyelonephritis, involving destruction and scarring of renal tissue due to repeated inflammation
Acute:
Occurs at any age
1% boys and 3% girls have had by age 7
Highest incidence in women ages 15-29, followed by infants and elderly
chronic:
Scarring of kidneys occurring after recurrent or persistent infections
Pyelonephritis acute and chronic risk factors
acute: Structural renal abnormalities, including vesicoureteric reflux Calculi and catheterisation Stents or drainage procedures Pregnancy Diabetes Primary biliary cirrhosis Immunocompromised Neuropathic bladder Prostate enlargement
chronic: Structural abnormalities, obstruction or calculi VUR Intrarenal reflux in neonates Diabetes Factors predisposing recurrent UTI
Acute pyelonephritis presentation
Rapid onset over day or two
Uni or bilateral loin pain, suprapubic pain or back pain
Fever variable can produce rigors
Malaise
Nausea and vomiting
Anorexia
Occasionally diarrhoea
Accompanying lower UTI features: frequency, dysuria, gross haematuria or hesitancy
Pain on firm palpation of one/both kidneys
Moderate suprapubic tenderness without guarding
Presentation in children can be less specific
Acute pyelonephritis investigations
Urinalysis: urine often cloudy with odor, +ve for blood, protein, leukocyte esterase and nitrite
MSU sent for microscopy and culture
Catheter specimen
Bloods: FBC, CRP, WCC, SR, plasma viscosity and cultures
Contrast enhanced CT (CECT) and KUB gold standard!
Children first line is urine samples
DMSA scan for detailed renal cortical views
MRI
Renal biopsy to exclude papillary necrosis
acute Pyelonephritis management and complications
Fluid intake and analgesia
Hospitalisation for severe condition or comorbidities
Antibiotics whilst awaiting culture and sensitivity (1st line ciprofloxacin or co-amoxiclav, trimethoprim if sensitivity confirmed)
Surgery rare needed to drain renal or perinephric abscesses or to relieve obstructions like stones
Complications: Sepsis Perinephric abscess Renal abscess Acute papillary necrosis Pregnancy tends to be more complex: can cause preterm labour, consider prophylaxis antibiotics if >3 x infection within a year Impaired renal function
Chronic pyelonephritis presentation and investigations
Often asymptomatic Fever Malaise Loin pain Nausea and vomiting Dysuria HTN Failure to thrive Features of CKD
investigations:
Urine microscopy, culture and sensitivity
Renal USS
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) small kidneys, ureteric and calyceal dilatation with cortical scarring
Micturating cystourethrogram MCUG
USS and KUB
Technetium scan for renal scars most sensitive
Renal biopsy
Chronic pyelonephritis management and complications
BP controlled to slow progression of CKD ideally with ACEi
Supervening UTI may need long courses antibiotics
Severe underlying VUR in children may need antibiotic prophylaxis until puberty or resolution
Calculi removal
Surgical reimplantation of ureters in severe cases
Dialysis or renal transplant in severe cases
Monitored for development of hyperlipidaemia, HTN, diabetes and deteriorating renal function
Complications:
Progressive renal scarring with reflux nephropathy and CKD
Secondary HTN
Pyonephrosis
Focal glomerulosclerosis
Urea splitting organisms can lead to staghorn calculi
balanitis and cause
Inflammation of glans penis
If foreskin also inflamed it is termed balanoposthitis, although commonly still called balanitis
More common in men than boys
Cause:
Intertrigo
Infection with candida is cause of less than 20% cases, often signifies underlying dermatosis
Bacterial cases may be polymicrobial (candida, staph or strep especially group B, anaerobes etc)
Fixed drug eruption (particularly sulfonamides and tetracycline)
Circinate balanitis (associated with reactive arthritis)
Zoon’s balanitis (plasma cell infiltration); a benign, idiopathic condition presenting as a solitary, smooth, shiny, red-orange plaque of the glans and prepuce of a middle-aged to older man
Queyrat’s erythroplasia (penile Bowen’s disease - carcinoma in situ)
Psoriasis
Lichen planus
Leukoplakia
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Pemphigus
Pemphigoid
Irritation or contact dermatitis: wet nappies, poor hygiene, smegma, soap, condoms.
Trauma: zippers, accidental or inappropriate foreskin retraction by a child/parent.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Severe oedema due to right heart failure.
Morbid obesity.
balanitis risk factors
Diabetes Oral antibiotics Poor hygiene in uncircumcised males Immunosuppression Chemical or physical irritation of glans
Balanitis presentation
Sore, inflamed and swollen glans/foreskin
Non-retractile foreskin/phimosis
Penile ulceration
Penile plaques
Satellite lesions
May be purulent and/or foul smelling discharge (most common with strep or anaerobic infections)
Dysuria
Interference with urinary flow in severe cases
Obscuration of glans/external urethral meatus
Impotence or pain during coitus
Regional lymphadenopathy
Balanitis investigations and complications
blood/urine testing for glucose if diabetes possible
Swab of discharge for microscopy, gram staining, culture and sensitivity
Refer to GUM clinic is STI suspected
Bacterial infection suspected: swab and await results/consider GUM referral
Complication:
Difficulty retracting foreskin can develop especially if recurring or chronic
Balanitis management
Daily cleansing with warm water and gentle drying. Saline baths (4 tbs salt in bath)
STI screening and treatment of patient and partners PRN
If dermatological cause; treat cause with advice from GUM/dermatology referral. Biopsy may be needed for referral
Contact irritant causes = Avoid triggers (latex condoms etc.) usually resolves over period of days with irritant removal
Topical hydrocortisone 1% therapy recommended (ONCE DAILY UP TO 14 DAYS). Systemic for severe inflammation affecting penile shaft or marked genital oedema
No improvement = stop hydrocortisone and take subpreputial swab to exclude or confirm fungal or bacterial infection - manage according to results
Candidal infection suspected = clotrimazole cream 1% or miconazole 2% apply twice daily until symptoms settle
Nystatin if resistance suspected
Topical imidazole with 1% hydrocortisone if marked inflammation
Bacterial = flucloxacillin or erythromycin. Anaerobic = metronidazole 400mg 2x daily for one week or co-amoxiclav.
Consider hospital for IV antimicrobials for gross inflammation or systemic illness
Surgery considered for circumcision if recurrent or pathological phimosis present
Prognosis:
Depends on underlying cause and presence of risk factors
More likely to recur in diabetes, poor genital hygiene, phimosis, contact irritants if re exposed