Alterations in Kidney Function

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering urinary tract infections, incontinence, retention, BPH, TURP procedures, glomerulonephritis, and renal calculi.

Cystitis

A lower urinary tract infection specifically involving the inflammation of the bladder, characterized by symptoms like hematuria, frequency, and suprapubic tenderness.

Pyelonephritis

An upper urinary tract infection involving the kidney, distinguished by a high fever $>102^{\circ}F$, flank pain, and costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria

A classification of urinary tract infection where bacteria are present in the urine but the individual does not exhibit clinical symptoms.

Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)

A urinary analgesic used for symptom management of UTIs that commonly causes the patient's urine to turn an orange color.

WBC casts

A laboratory finding in a urinalysis that specifically indicates the presence of pyelonephritis (kidney involvement).

Stress Incontinence

The leakage of urine resulting from increased abdominal pressure during activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise due to a weak urethral sphincter.

Urge Incontinence

Involuntary urine leakage associated with a sudden, strong urge to void, caused by detrusor muscle overactivity.

Overflow Incontinence

Urinary leakage from an overdistended bladder that fails to empty fully, often characterized by a high post-void residual (PVR) volume $>200\,mL$.

Functional Incontinence

Urinary leakage caused by physical or cognitive impairments, such as mobility issues or dementia, that prevent a person from reaching the toilet in time.

Post-void residual (PVR)

A measurement of the volume of urine remaining in the bladder after voiding; a value of $>300\,mL$ typically indicates urinary retention.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

A DHT-driven cellular proliferation in the transitional zone of the prostate that compresses the urethra and causes outflow obstruction.

Tamsulosin (Flomax)

An alpha-1 blocker that relaxes smooth muscle at the bladder neck to provide fast relief for BPH symptoms; a common side effect is orthostatic hypotension.

Finasteride (Proscar)

A 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used to shrink the prostate gland by blocking DHT; it may take 6 months to reduce PSA levels by approximately $50\%$.

Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)

A surgical procedure where a resectoscope is passed through the urethra to shave away obstructing prostatic tissue with an electrocautery loop.

Continuous Bladder Irrigation (CBI)

The use of a three-way catheter post-prostatectomy to instill sterile saline and wash out blood and clots to prevent catheter obstruction.

TURP Syndrome

A serious complication involving dilutional hyponatremia caused by the absorption of hypotonic irrigant, leading to confusion, bradycardia, and hypotension.

Retrograde Ejaculation

A common post-TURP condition where semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of exiting the urethra, resulting in cloudy urine after intercourse.

Glomerulonephritis

An immune-mediated inflammation of the glomerular basement membrane, often resulting in "cola-colored" urine, proteinuria, and periorbital edema.

Azotemia

An accumulation of nitrogenous waste products in the blood, often associated with the inflammation and filtration damage seen in glomerulonephritis.

Nephrolithiasis

The formation of crystalline mineral deposits, such as calcium oxalate (the most common type, making up approximately $80\%$), within the renal collecting system.

Hydronephrosis

The dilation of the kidney with fluid backup caused by a proximal obstruction, such as a renal calculus.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL)

A non-invasive procedure that uses shock waves to fragment renal stones smaller than $2\,cm$ to facilitate their passage through the urinary tract.

Urosepsis

A high-priority complication of urinary infections or obstructions characterized by systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) and potential septic shock.