Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Urologic Conditions
Number of Conditions: 4
Urinary Retention
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Renal and Urologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Urologic Conditions
Symptoms:
inability to urinate; lower abdominal pain or discomfort; weak or dribbling urine stream; frequent urination with small amounts; bladder distension
Root Cause:
Blockage or dysfunction of the urinary tract or bladder, often due to enlarged prostate, strictures, neurogenic bladder, or medications affecting bladder tone.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical exam (e.g., palpation of bladder), bladder ultrasound to detect residual urine, urinalysis, and possibly imaging (CT or MRI) to identify obstruction.
Treatment:
Immediate catheterization to relieve retention, addressing underlying causes (e.g., prostate surgery, dilation of strictures), and medications to manage chronic issues.
Medications:
Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin or alfuzosin ) to relax the bladder neck and prostate; 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (e.g., finasteride or dutasteride ) for chronic prostate enlargement.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in older adults, particularly men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); also occurs in individuals with neurologic conditions.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Male gender, older age, BPH, pelvic surgery, neurologic disorders, and certain medications (e.g., antihistamines, decongestants).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely treatment, though recurrent episodes may require long-term management.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bladder damage, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and kidney damage (hydronephrosis) if untreated.
Obstructive Uropathy (e.g., Kidney Stones)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Renal and Urologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Urologic Conditions
Symptoms:
severe flank pain; hematuria (blood in urine); nausea and vomiting; frequent or painful urination; fever or chills if infection is present
Root Cause:
Blockage of urine flow from the kidney due to stones in the ureter, bladder, or kidney, leading to pressure and potential kidney damage.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis for blood or infection, non-contrast CT scan (gold standard), ultrasound, or plain X-ray (KUB) to detect stones.
Treatment:
Pain management with NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) or opioids; hydration to aid stone passage; surgical removal via ureteroscopy, lithotripsy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy for larger stones.
Medications:
Alpha-blockers (e.g., tamsulosin ) to facilitate stone passage; antibiotics if infection is present (e.g., ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone ).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 10% of the population globally; higher incidence in men and individuals aged 30–60 years.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dehydration, high salt/protein diet, family history, obesity, and metabolic disorders like hypercalcemia or gout.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally excellent if treated; untreated cases risk hydronephrosis, infection, or kidney damage.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrent stones, urinary tract infections, and kidney failure in severe or neglected cases.
Testicular Torsion
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Renal and Urologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Urologic Conditions
Symptoms:
sudden, severe testicular pain; swelling in the scrotum; abdominal pain; nausea and vomiting; high-riding testicle
Root Cause:
Twisting of the spermatic cord, cutting off blood supply to the testicle, often due to inadequate fixation of the testicle in the scrotum.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical exam (e.g., absence of cremasteric reflex), scrotal ultrasound with Doppler for blood flow assessment, and surgical exploration.
Treatment:
Immediate surgical detorsion and fixation (orchidopexy); removal (orchiectomy) if testicle is nonviable.
Medications:
Pain management (e.g., NSAIDs or acetaminophen ); antibiotics if infection coexists but typically not primary treatment.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Most common in males aged 12–18 but can occur at any age, including neonates.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Bell-clapper deformity, trauma, or sudden testicular movement.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent if treated within 6 hours; testicular viability decreases significantly after 12 hours.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Testicular necrosis, infertility, and psychological distress.
Priapism
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Renal and Urologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Urologic Conditions
Symptoms:
prolonged and painful erection; rigid penile shaft with soft glans; discoloration of penis (in ischemic cases); urinary retention or dysuria
Root Cause:
Blood trapping in the penile corpora cavernosa (ischemic) or excessive arterial inflow without venous drainage (non-ischemic).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
History and physical exam, penile blood gas analysis (ischemic vs. non-ischemic), and Doppler ultrasound.
Treatment:
Ischemic
Medications:
Phenylephrine (alpha-adrenergic agonist) for ischemic priapism; analgesics (e.g., NSAIDs or opioids) for pain.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; ischemic priapism is more common and considered a urologic emergency.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Sickle cell disease, medications (e.g., PDE5 inhibitors, antipsychotics), trauma, or spinal cord injury.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely treatment; delayed management risks permanent erectile dysfunction.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Penile fibrosis, erectile dysfunction, and infection.