medterm exam 4

Nephropathy

general term for any disease of the kidney

Nephroptosis

abnormally low position of a kidney

Renal failure

disease in which urine production decreases and may even stop; can occur due to acute or chronic disease processes

Polycystic kidney disease

hereditary disease characterized by cysts in the kidney; growth of these cysts eventually destroys the nephrons and causes kidney failure

Pyelonephritis

infection and inflammation of the renal pelvis of the kidney; caused by bacteria that travel upward from the bladder

Renal cell cancer

a cancerous tumor (carcinoma) that begins in the epithelial cells in the tubules of the nephron

Hydronephrosis

condition in which urine distends the renal pelvis and calices or ureter; occurs when a blood clot, infection, or kidney stone blocks the flow of urine

Glomerulonephritis

infection and inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney; occurs as a complication of acute viral or streptococcal infection, when antigen

Uremia

condition in which there is excessive buildup of urea in the blood due to renal failure

Urinary tract infection UTI

bacterial infection somewhere in the urinary tract; usually involves E.coli that have traveled from the rectum into the urethra

Nephrolithiasis

formation of a kidney stone in in the urinary system; scraping of the stone against the mucosa of the ureter and bladder causes muscle spasm, severe pain, vomiting and/or hematuria

Bladder cancer

presence of a cancerous tumor in the epithelial cells of the bladder

Cystitis

infection or inflammation of the bladder often due to bacterial infection

Cystocele

hernia in which the bladder bulges through a weakness in the muscular wall of the vagina or rectum, causing retention of urine inside the hernia

Neurogenic bladder

condition in which nerves to the bladder are not working properly; this causes urinary retention because the bladder does not contract

Overactive bladder

condition in which the bladder has too many involuntary contractions, resulting in urgency and frequency; also known as urge incontinence

Urinary retention

inability to empty the bladder

Vesicovaginal fistula

abnormal passageway connecting the bladder to the vagina; urine flows through this passageway and continually leaks out of the body through the vagina

Incontinence

inability to voluntarily keep urine in the bladder

Urethritis

infection or inflammation of the urethra

Anuria

complete absence of urine production by the kidneys

Oliguria

decreases or scanty production of urine due to kidney failure or dehydration

Dysuria

difficult or painful urination

Polyuria

excessive urine production; common symptom of diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus

Frequency

urinating often, usually in small amounts

Urgency

strong urge to urinate with a sense of pressure in the bladder; caused by obstruction or inflammation

Hesitancy

inability to initiate a normal stream of urine with dribbling and a decrease in the width of the urinary stream

Nocturia

increased frequency and urgency of urination at night

Bacteriuria

presence of bacteria in the urine; indicative of infection somewhere in the urinary tract

Pyuria

presence of white blood cells or pus in the urine; indicative of UTI

Albuminuria

presence of albumin in the urine; also called proteinuria

Glycosuria

presence of glucose in the urine; associated with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

Ketonuria

presence of ketones in the urine; occurs when the body metabolizes fat rather than glucose. Common with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

Hematuria

blood in the urine

Urinalysis UA

urine test that describes the general characteristics of a patient’s urine and detects substances in it

Drug screening

urine test performed to evaluate whether an individual is using illegal, addictive or performance enhancing drugs

Blood urea nitrogen BUN

blood test that measures the amount of urea in the blood; elevated levels mean the kidneys aren’t working properly

Creatnine

blood test that measures the amount of creatnine in the blood; elevated levels mean the kidneys aren’t working properly

Leukocyte esterase

quick urine dipstick test that detects the enzyme esterase, which is associated with the white blood cells that are present with a urinary tract infection

Culture and sensitivity

test in which a urine sample is swabbed onto a culture medium so that any bacteria present in the sample can be identified; the bacteria are then tested to determine their sensitivity to various antibiotics

Albumin

albumin in the urine is an abnormal finding that indicates damage to the glomerulus

Color

normal urine is light yellow to amber in color

Glucose

glucose in the urine is an abnormal finding that indicates uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

Ketones

ketones in the urine are an abnormal finding that suggests uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or malnutrition

Odor

normal urine has a faint odor; fruity smelling urine suggests diabetes mellitus

pH

normal urine is slightly alkaline, with a pH just over 7

Red blood cells

presence of RBCs indicates bleeding in the urinary tract

Sediment

several types of sediment may be present in urine such as crystals or epithelial cells

Specific gravity (SG, sp gr)

measurement of the concentration of urine as compared to that of water

White blood cells

presence of WBCs indicates a urinary tract infection; if the specimen is milky or cloudy, the result is reported as too numerous to count TNTC.

Intake and Output

procedure that documents a patient’s total amount of fluid intake and total amount of fluid output

Catheterization

insertion of flexible tube called a catheter through the urethra and into the bladder to drain urine

Dialysis

procedure to remove waste products from the blood of a patient who is in renal failure

Hemodialysis

a fistula is surgically created to accommodate two needles; one needle removes the blood and sends it to the dialysis machine for purification, and the other needle returns the blood to the body.

Peritoneal dialysis

a permanent catheter is inserted through the abdominal wall; dialysate fluid is put into the abdominal cavity via the catheter and left for several hours, then removed along with waste products from the blood.

Antibiotics

treat urinary tract infections caused by bacteria

Antispasmodics

relax smooth muscle in the walls of the urinary tract; used to treat cystitis or overactive bladder

Diuretics

block sodium reabsorption in the kidney, which decreases blood volume and increases urine volume

Overactive bladder drugs

decrease contractions of smooth muscle in the bladder

Potassium supplements

replace potassium that is lost when taking diuretic drugs

Urinary analgesics

relieve pain in the mucosa of the urinary tract

Intravenous pyelography IVP

radiologic procedure that uses x

Kidneys, ureters, bladder KUB x-rays

Xray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder that shows only those structures and does not use contrast dye

Renal angiography

procedure that uses x-rays and radiopaque contrast dye to produce images of the renal artery

Ultrasonography

use of high frequency sound waves to produce an image of the urinary system

Voiding cystourethrography

procedure in which contrast dye is inserted into the bladder and urethra, and an x

Lithotripsy

procedure that uses a laser or sound waves to break up a kidney stone

Nephrolithotomy

procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the kidney through a slit in the skin, then used to remove a stone embedded in the renal pelvis or calices

Stone basketing

procedure in which a cystoscopy is inserted into the the bladder, then a small wire basket is passed through the scope to grab and remove kidney stones from the bladder or ureter

Cystectomy

surgical removal of the bladder used in the treatment of bladder cancer

Cystoscopy

use of an instrument called a cystoscope to examine the inside of the bladder

Bladder neck suspension

procedure to correct stress urinary incontinence; involves insertion of a supportive sling of muscle tissue or synthetic mesh around the bladder neck and urethra

Renal biopsy

procedure in which a small piece of kidney is removed for microscopic analysis

Nephrectomy

surgical removal of a diseased or cancerous kidney; also the procedure used to remove a healthy kidney from a living donor

Nephropexy

surgical correction of an abnormally low kidney by suturing it into the correct position

Kidney transplantation

procedure to treat a patient in end stage renal failure by transplanting a new kidney from a donor

Urethroplasty

plastic surgery procedure to reposition the urethral meatus in male patients who have hypospadias or epispadias