The relative contribution of urine extravasation to elevate plasma creatinine levels in acute unilateral ureteral obstruction

Idiopathic Spontaneous Rupture of Renal Pelvis in a Single Functioning Kidney

Spontaneous rupture of renal pelvis (SRRP) is a rare condition resulting in an extravasation of urine into retroperitoneal space. Due to the uncharacteristic symptoms, often mimicking renal colic, its diagnosis may be complicated. Herein, we report a case of a 73-year-old male with a solitary functioning kidney who presented with malaise and right-sided abdominal pain, rapidly followed by anuria. Laboratory tests showed the signs of AKI. Contrast-enhanced CT performed soon after the admission showed nonspecific abnormalities in the right middle abdomen suspected to be either inflammatory infiltration or surgical scarring. Symptomatic treatment was started, and an acute hemodialysis treatment was commenced. After a temporal improvement, the patient's general condition worsened significantly, with exacerbated pain and massive increase in plasma creatinine. A second contrast-enhanced CT was performed with an addition of urography phase, revealing the extravasation of the contrast media in the location suggesting the rupture of the renal pelvis. The patient was treated successfully by the placement of a double-J ureteral stent into the ureter. Usually, a clear etiology of SRRP can be determined, that is, urinary tract obstruction, but in this case, we could not find a definite cause. It is important to remember that in the presence of a nonspecific abdominal pain and laboratory signs of AKI, a rare cause like SRRP should be taken into consideration. Performing a contrast CT scan with urography phase can save time in establishing a diagnosis and enable immediate urological intervention.

Doppler sonographic evaluation of resistive index of intra-renal arteries in acute ureteric obstruction

BACKGROUND

Acute ureteric colic is one of the most commonly encountered acute abdominal conditions. Diagnosis of obstruction caused by ureteric calculus occasionally becomes challenging if there is inadequate dilation of the urinary tract proximal to obstruction. In such a situation, intra-renal artery Doppler parameters can be used as a diagnostic tool. Our study compared intra-renal arterial Doppler in patients with obstructed and non-obstructed kidneys presenting within 24 h of onset of symptoms of unilateral acute renal colic.

RESULTS

The resistivity index (RI) in the segmental arteries of all 54 patients with obstructed kidneys was significantly higher than in those with non-obstructed kidney: 0.75 vs. 0.56, with a p value less than 0.001, a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 93%.

CONCLUSION

Doppler ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of acute renal obstruction, thus enabling practitioners to avoid ordering unnecessary CT and exposing patients to ionizing radiation. An RI value > 0.7 has good sensitivity and specificity in our study. The results obtained in the study were comparable to those of pioneer studies conducted worldwide.

Transient renal impairment in the absence of pre-existing chronic kidney disease in patients with unilateral ureteric stone impaction

This study aims to describe the rate and characteristics of transient renal impairment in unilateral ureteric stone patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to identify factors that may have influenced renal function of these patients. Unilateral ureteric stone patients who visited our hospital's emergency department from December, 2009 to December, 2015 were divided into two groups based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): group I (patients with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m²) and group II (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²). A univariate comparison between groups I and II was performed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors that influenced renal function. There were 107 patients in group II, which constituted 5.6 % of the total patients. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (p < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 1.069, confidence interval [CI] = 1.049-1.089), hypertension (p < 0.001, OR = 2.302, CI = 1.467-3.611), stone size (p = 0.001, OR = 1.141, CI = 1.057-1.231), white blood cell count (p = 0.001, OR = 1.132, CI = 1.055-1.215) and hematuria (p < 0.001, OR = 0.383, CI = 0.231-0.636) were found to be independent factors for renal impairment. Based on the results of this study, the rate of renal impairment was 6 % of the unilateral ureteric stone patients without pre-existing CKD. Age and hypertension were found to be independent factors for renal impairment; NSAIDs should be used cautiously or other agents for pain relief such as opioids should be considered in old aged patients with hypertension.