Overview
What are the signs and symptoms of nephrolithiasis?
How is pain characterized in nephrolithiasis?
Which physical findings are characteristic of nephrolithiasis?
Which lab tests are performed in the workup of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of imaging studies in the evaluation of nephrolithiasis?
How is renal colic treated in nephrolithiasis?
How are stones prevented in nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of surgery in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the anatomy of the ureter relevant to nephrolithiasis?
What is the pathophysiology of stone formation in nephrolithiasis?
What is the pathophysiology renal colic in nephrolithiasis?
What are the chemical types of calculi in nephrolithiasis?
What causes calcium stones in nephrolithiasis?
What causes struvite stones in nephrolithiasis?
What causes uric acid stones in nephrolithiasis?
What causes cystine stones in nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of medications in the etiology of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of genetics in the etiology of nephrolithiasis?
What is the prevalence of nephrolithiasis in the US?
What is the global prevalence of nephrolithiasis?
Which age groups have the highest prevalence of nephrolithiasis?
What are the sexual predilections of nephrolithiasis?
What are the racial predilections of nephrolithiasis?
What is the prognosis of nephrolithiasis?
What should be included in patient education about nephrolithiasis?
Presentation
Which clinical history findings are characteristic of nephrolithiasis?
What is the focus of clinical history in the evaluation of nephrolithiasis?
How is pain characterized in nephrolithiasis?
What are the phases of acute renal colic in nephrolithiasis?
What are the common GI symptoms of nephrolithiasis?
Which physical findings are characteristic of nephrolithiasis?
What is the morbidity associated with nephrolithiasis?
What are the possible complications of nephrolithiasis?
DDX
What is the STONE score and how is used in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
How is nephrolithiasis diagnosed?
How is abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) differentiated from nephrolithiasis?
How frequently is nephrolithiasis misdiagnosed as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)?
Which conditions should be included in the differential diagnoses of nephrolithiasis?
What are the differential diagnoses for Nephrolithiasis?
Workup
What is the role of imaging in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
When should nephrolithiasis be considered in children and elderly patients?
What are the EAU guidelines for the evaluation of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of urinalysis in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of complete blood count (CBC) in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
How is renal function assessed in the evaluation of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of 24-hour urine profile in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What are the calcium, oxalate and uric acid findings characteristic of nephrolithiasis?
How is hypercalciuria treated in nephrolithiasis?
How is hyperoxaluria treated in nephrolithiasis?
How is hyperuricosuria treated in nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of sodium and phosphorus measurement in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of citrate and magnesium measurement in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of creatinine measurement in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of total urine volume in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of pH studies in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of flat plate radiography in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of KUB radiography in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
When is combined radiography and ultrasonography indicated for the evaluation of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of IV pyelography (urography) in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
How is medullary sponge kidney (MSK) diagnosed during the workup for nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of CT scanning in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What are the advantages CT scanning in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What are the disadvantages of CT scanning in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of CT scanning in identifying secondary signs of obstruction in nephrolithiasis?
What are the recommendations for the use of CT scanning in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
How does CT scanning compare to IV pyelography (IVP) in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of plain renal tomography in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of retrograde pyelography in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of nuclear renal scanning in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of MRI in the diagnosis of nephrolithiasis?
Treatment
How is nephrolithiasis treated?
What are the guidelines for the conservative management of nephrolithiasis?
When is inpatient care indicated for nephrolithiasis?
What is infected hydronephrosis in nephrolithiasis and how is it managed?
How are large stones in nephrolithiasis treated?
What is the initial emergency care for renal colic in nephrolithiasis?
How is pain managed during the emergent treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of antiemetic therapy in the emergency treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of antidiuretic therapy in the emergency treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of antibiotic therapy in the emergency treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the efficacy of MET in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
How is MET administered for the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of IV hydration in the emergency treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of urine straining in the emergency treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of anatrophic nephrostolithotomy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of surgery in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
When is surgery indicated for the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
When is surgical intervention contraindicated for the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
Which surgical interventions are used in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What are the guidelines for the surgical treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of stent placement in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of percutaneous nephrostomy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of ureteroscopy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
When is stent placement omitted following ureteroscopy for nephrolithiasis?
What are the disadvantages of ureteroscopy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of percutaneous nephrostolithotomy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of open nephrostomy in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of invasive therapy for nephrolithiasis during pregnancy?
What is the role of a dual wave handheld lithotripter in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of a StoneBreaker in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of medical therapy in the dissolution of calculi in nephrolithiasis?
What is the role of chemoprophylaxis in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
Which dietary modifications are used in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
How is nephrolithiasis prevented?
Which specialist consultations are beneficial to patients with nephrolithiasis?
What is included in the long-term monitoring of nephrolithiasis?
What is included in postsurgical care and follow-up of patients with nephrolithiasis?
How is ongoing medical therapy for nephrolithiasis monitored?
Guidelines
Which organizations have issued nephrolithiasis guidelines?
Medications
Which medications are used in the treatment of nephrolithiasis?
Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Nephrolithiasis?
Which medications in the drug class Antiemetics are used in the treatment of Nephrolithiasis?
Which medications in the drug class Corticosteroids are used in the treatment of Nephrolithiasis?
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Small renal calculus that would likely respond to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.
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Complete staghorn calculus that fills the collecting system of the kidney (no intravenous contrast material in this patient). Although many staghorn calculi are struvite (related to infection with urease-splitting bacteria), the density of this stone suggests that it may be metabolic in origin and is likely composed of calcium oxalate. Percutaneous nephrostolithotomy or perhaps even open surgical nephrolithotomy is required to remove this stone.
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Distal ureteral stone observed through a small, rigid ureteroscope prior to ballistic lithotripsy and extraction. The small caliber and excellent optics of today's endoscopes greatly facilitate minimally invasive treatment of urinary stones.
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Two calculi in a dependent calyx of the kidney (lower pole) visualized through a flexible fiberoptic ureteroscope. In another location, these calculi might have been treated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), but, after being counseled regarding the lower success rate of ESWL for stones in a dependent location, the patient elected ureteroscopy. Note that the image provided by fiberoptics, although still acceptable, is inferior to that provided by the rod-lens optics of the rigid ureteroscope in the previous picture.
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Nephrolithiasis: acute renal colic. Anatomy of the ureter.
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Nephrolithiasis: acute renal colic. Distribution of nerves in the flank.
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Nephrolithiasis: acute renal colic. Nerve supply of the kidney.
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Nephrolithiasis: acute renal colic. Renal colic and flank pain.
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Nephrolithiasis: acute renal colic. Nerve supply of the kidney.
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Nephrolithiasis: acute renal colic. Distribution of renal and ureteral pain.
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Noncontrast helical CT scan of the abdomen demonstrating a stone at the right ureterovesical junction.
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Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) demonstrating dilation of the right renal collecting system and right ureter consistent with right ureterovesical stone.