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In this special COVID-19 edition of JELEU, we start with three articles that discuss aspects of urological management that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic: the impact of living with cystinuria, the challenges of delivering a urodynamic service, and the consequences of adding a CT chest to a CTKUB for patients with pain suggestive of ureteric colic.

Patients with ureteric calculi usually present with ipsilateral “loin to groin” pain. Rarely ureteric colic may present with contralateral pain, which is referred to as “mirror pain”. We report the case notes of a rare presentation of contralateral ureteric colic or “mirror pain” secondary to a ureteric calculus. A comprehensive literature review was also conducted. “Mirror pain” or contralateral ureteric colic is rare. Urologists should be aware of this unusual clinical presentation and appreciate that upper urinary tract calculi can cause pain on the contralateral side.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Ureteric colic is a common condition that causes severe pain and generates substantial health system utilization. Traditional management includes analgesia and a trial o...

Objectives: The objective was to determine accuracy of ultrasound in thediagnosis of ureteric calculi confirmed on non-contrast Computed Tomography amongpatients with acute ureteric colic. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: EmergencyDepartment of Nishtar Hospital, Multan. Period: 11-07-2012 to 10-01-2013. Materials andMethods: 100 consecutive patients presenting with acute severe ureteric colic and fulfillingthe inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled for the study from the emergency departmentof Nishtar Hospital Multan. Ultrasonography was done in all patients and USG findings wererecorded for the presence or absence of hyperechoic shadows in the ureteric. All the patientsunderwent CT scan to confirm or refute the findings of Ultrasonography. Result: Mean age ofthe patients was 37.85 + 12.60 years. Males were 53 (53%) while females were 47 (47%). Meanduration of pain before presentation was 14.81 + 6.20 hours. Mean severity of pain on visualanalogue scale was 9.40 + 0.8. Overall 79 patients were diagnosed as having ureteric calculi.Ultrasonography detected the ureteric stone in 75 patients and was all found to have stoneon CT scan and represented true positives. Among 25 patients in whom ultrasound did notdemonstrate any stone, 4 were found to have ureteric stone on CT scan thus representing falsenegative whereas 21 (84%) were confirmed on CT scan not to have any stone, thus representingTrue negatives. The sensitivity of USG for detection of ureteric stone was found to be 94.9%,the specificity was 100%, and positive predictive value was 100% while negative predictivevalue was 84% .There was no significant effect of age or gender on the accuracy of ultrasound.Conclusion: Ultrasonography is a readily available, non-invasive and reliable investigation inpatients presenting with acute flank pain to diagnose ureteric stones with a specificity of 100%and a sensitivity approaching 95%. Thus it is recommended that it should be used routinely forthe evaluation of patients presenting with acute flank pain.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR), statistical iterative reconstruction (SIR), and filtered back projection (FBP) image reconstruction algorithms in the delineation of ureters and overall image quality on non-enhanced computed tomography of the renal tracts (NECT-KUB). This was a prospective study of 40 adult patients who underwent NECT-KUB for investigation of ureteric colic. Images were reconstructed using FBP, SIR, and MBIR techniques and individually and randomly assessed by two blinded radiologists. Parameters measured were overall image quality, presence of ureteric calculus, presence of hydronephrosis or hydroureters, image quality of each ureteric segment, total length of ureters unable to be visualized, attenuation values of image noise, and retroperitoneal fat content for each patient. There were no diagnostic discrepancies between image reconstruction modalities for urolithiasis. Overall image qualities and for each ureteric segment were superior using MBIR (67.5 % rated as 'Good to Excellent' vs. 25 % in SIR and 2.5 % in FBP). The lengths of non-visualized ureteric segments were shortest using MBIR (55.0 % measured 'less than 5 cm' vs. ASIR 33.8 % and FBP 10 %). MBIR was able to reduce overall image noise by up to 49.36 % over SIR and 71.02 % over FBP. MBIR technique improves overall image quality and visualization of ureters over FBP and SIR.

Acute flank pain is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED), and imaging studies play an important role in establishing an accurate diagnosis. Computed Tomography of Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder (CT KUB) has surpassed all other imaging modalities to become the gold standard in detection of ureteric calculi. The purpose of this study is to identify the range and management of alternative diagnoses established by CT KUB in patients with suspected ureteric colic. Two hundred and fifteen consecutive CT KUB examinations ordered in the ED of a tertiary-care centre for suspected ureteric colic were retrospectively reviewed. This comprised of 134 male (62.3%) and 81 female (37.7%) patients with a mean age of 53 years old. The positive detection rate for ureteric calculi in males was 43.3% compared to a lower rate for females of 29.6% (p < 0.05). Almost two-thirds of patients were discharged following CT KUB imaging, and admission rates were significantly higher in those with alternative radiological findings (p < 0.04) Alternative radiological findings occurred in 72 patients (33.5%), including 15 patients (7.0%) who had clinically important alternative pathology. The rate of clinically important alternative findings was significantly higher in males than females, 9.7% versus 2.5% respectively (p = 0.04). Surgical intervention was more common in patients with alternative radiological findings classified as gastrointestinal (18.2%) compared to non-gastrointestinal (3.6%), however this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07). In conclusion, significant alternative pathology was identified using CT KUB in 7% of patients with suspected ureteric colic. The low rates of detection of ureteric calculi and significant alternative pathology in female patients suggests a more thorough clinical assessment is warranted to improve their management, prior to ordering investigations with exposure to radiation.

Introduction and objectives: Admissions for ureteric colic are relatively common, with up to 80% of stones passing spontaneously. In patients with refractory pain, drainage with stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy or stone removal can be performed. Due to the financial restrictions of the NHS, it is paramount to ensure patients are receiving optimal cost-effective care. We present a cost effectiveness analysis between primary ureteric stenting and emergency ureteroscopic stone removal in patients with refractory pain secondary to acute ureteric calculi. Methods: Fifty patients were analysed who underwent either primary ureteric stenting or emergency ureteroscopic stone removal in our institution. Each group contained 25 consecutive patients. The primary outcomes compared were: time to stone-free status, number of hospital re-admissions, and overall cost of treatment until stone free. Results: Both stenting ( n=25) and ureteroscopic stone removal ( n=25) groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, stone size and location. The hospital re-admission rate secondary to stone-specific issues was significantly lower in the ureteroscopy group, two versus 20. Patients became stone free significantly quicker in the ureteroscopy group (2.5 days vs. 61.9 days). The total overall cost until being declared stone free was significantly lower in the ureteroscopy group (£3104 vs. £4041, P⩽0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights that those patients undergoing ureteric stenting take significantly longer to become stone free, leading to increased hospital re-admissions, potentially increased morbidity and inevitably greater cost implications. We advocate that primary ureteroscopic stone removal should be consider instead of ureteric stenting in patients with ongoing, painful ureteric colic.

Result: One hundred ninety-five procedures were performed on 167 patients. One hundred twenty-seven (65.1%) procedures were urgent and 68 (34.9%) were elective. The cohort included 131 males and 36 females with a mean age of 41.5 years, a range of 19 to 74. One hundred fortynine (76.4%) procedures were performed on male patients, while 46 (23.5%) were performed on female patients. The mean stone size for patients undergoing urgent URS was 7.7 mm and 8.3 mm for elective procedures; approximately one-third of patients had more than one stone. Eighty-one stones in the urgent group were distally located; fifty-seven were in the elective group. The most common indication for urgent URS was pain refractory to injectable analgesia. LASER was used in 182 (93.3%) procedures, 179 (91.7%) procedures were urgent. Seventeen (8.7%) complications were documented for urgent URS and 8 (4.1%) for elective cases, no statistical significance, P value = 0.74.

Elderly patients with upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) may present with colic and microscopic haematuria, mimicking urolithiasis. Patients presenting to emergency departments with acute ureteric colic are investigated with a CT KUB. CT urography (CTU) identifies UTUC better than a CT KUB. Thus, there is a possibility that a CT KUB may miss UTUC. We studied patients aged 65 years or over presenting to the emergency department with ureteric colic and microscopic haematuria who had a CT KUB between January 2014 and October 2016. Patients who had both CT KUB and CTU were then compared to determine if CT KUB had missed a UTUC and if the diagnoses were concordant by the two tests. A radiologist independent from the reporting radiologists reviewed images as well as their reports. According to the Health Research Authority, England regulations, we did not obtain an ethical review on a voluntary basis for this retrospective study. Four hundred eighty-five patients [228 (47.01%) male and 257 (52.99%) female] had a CT KUB scan over the 34-month period. Their mean age was 74 (SD 6.97) [males 73 (SD 6.42), females 75 (SD 7.42)] years. One hundred eighty-seven scans were normal. Ureteric calculi (167), renal calculi (58) and renal cysts (28) were most frequent diagnoses. The diagnosis was uncertain in 33 patients (6.8%) [16 (48.49%) males and 17 (51.51%) females]. The mean age of this group of patients was 74 (SD 6.64) [males 73 (SD4.43), females 74 (SD7.64)] years. These patients had a CTU for clarity. CTU identified one UTUC not identified by CT KUB (0.2%), corroborated the diagnosis of a ureteric tumour in one patient and excluded UTUC in two others. CTU diagnosed two new bladder tumours and an endometrial tumour. Diagnoses were concordant between CT KUB and CTU in 17 of 33 patients (51.5%). CT KUB scans for patients 65 years and over presenting with ureteric colic is justified. Only a small proportion of patients will subsequently require the higher radiation dose CTU as the probability of missing UTUC is low.

Introduction: Ureteral colic is a common painful disorder. Early surgical intervention is an attractive management option but existing evidence does not clarify which patients benefit. Based on lack of evidence, current national specialty guidelines provide conflicting recommendations regarding who is a candidate for early intervention. We compared treatment failure rates in patients receiving early intervention to those in patients offered spontaneous passage to identify subgroups that benefit from early intervention. Methods: We used administrative data and structured chart review to study consecutive patients attending one of nine hospitals in two provinces with an index emergency department (ED) visit and a confirmed 2.0-9.9 mm ureteral stone. We described patient, stone and treatment variables, and used multivariable regression to identify factors associated with treatment failure, defined as the need for rescue intervention or hospitalization within 60 days. Our secondary outcome was ED revisit rate. Results: Overall, 1168 (37.9%) of 3081 eligible patients underwent early intervention. Patients with small stones Conclusion: This study clarifies stone characteristics that identify patients likely to benefit from early intervention. We recommend low-risk patients with uncomplicated stones 5mm, or any stone >7mm, be offered early intervention.

Background Computed tomography is considered as an imaging modality of choice in acute ureteric colic. However due to concerns regarding radiation exposure, sonograms are re-emerging as imaging methods in such situations.Objectives To evaluate the role of sonography in detection of calculus in acute ureteric colic.Methods Total 384 patients were enrolled. Hydronephrosis was graded as mild, moderate or severe. Calculus was detected as an intraluminal echogenic focus with distal shadowing with twinkling artifact. Number, size and position of the calculi were assessed. Patients were categorized into four groups:I. ureteric colic only II. ureteric colic with hematuria III. ureteric colic with hydronephrosis and IV. ureteric colic with hematuria and hydronephrosis and then the possibility of detection of calculi has been compared among these groups.Results Out of 384 patients, 254 were found to have calculi ranging between 2.7-27mm. Nineteen had in the pelvis/ pelviureteric junction, 64 in proximal ureter, 125 in distal ureter, 6 at iliac crossing and 40 at vesicoureteric junction. Two hundred forty one had single and 14 had multiple calculi. Calculus detection is easier in category III and IV patients. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography were 87.98% and 93.07%. Degree of hydronephrosis is strongly correlated with the number of calculi but weakly correlated with the size of the calculus.Conclusion Sonogram can be used in all cases of acute ureteric colic. Hydronephrosis is the most important finding because it paves the way out for the detection of calculus.Kathmandu University Medical Journal Vol.12(1) 2014: 9-15

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) became the first line in the treatment of ureteric stone after failure of conservative treatment because of its safety, simplicity and effectiveness. It is not invasive procedure and can be done on outpatient basis without anesthesia and with few complications which is most probably temporary and treatable. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of ESWL in treatment of ureteric stone in Iraq. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 Iraqi patients with ureteric stones were participated in this prospective observational study in which patients scheduled for ESWL treatment for a period of 6 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) Group 1: 52 patients with proximal ureteric stone; 2) Group 2: including 60 patients with distal ureteric stone. Preoperatively all patient underwent bowel preparation and were asked to fast for 8 hours before the procedure. Results: The age ranged between 22 and 55 with mean of 42 (SD = 5) years. Around 46% had proximal ureteric stone and the rest were in distal ureter. Around 44% needed one session and 40% needed two sessions to be stone-free respectively. In regards to associated symptoms, 74% had ureteric colic, 3% haematuria, 43% microhematuria and 12% UTI. Mild hydronephrosis was found in 90% of the cases and 30 reported had previous intervention. Success rate was 90%. Conclusions: ESWL is safe and effective in treatment of ureteric stone with few complications and must be regarded first choice after conservative treatment in a patient with uncomplicated ureteric stone.

Medical expulsive therapy (MET) is one of the most common conservative modality of treatment offered by general practitioners for ureteric colic and calculi. In many occasions, such treatment may have beneficial effect, but might be counter-productive, if offered inappropriately. We report a case of unilateral pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction with a large, redundant, extra renal pelvis that was misinterpreted in ultrasonography as hydroureteronephrosis. The dilatation was assumed to be due to ureteric calculus and hence treated with MET, that resulted in forniceal rupture and urinoma. The aim of this article is to highlight the possible catastrophe that can result as a result of inappropriate administration of MET, especially in those patients treated based on empirical diagnosis of ureteric colic.

Objective To determine if the measurement of ureteric stone in coronal reconstruction plane is different from the measurement in axial plane and whether the difference can impact the management decision in patients with ureteric colic. Methods All patients who underwent unenhanced multidetector computed tomographic (MDCT) scan for the evaluation of reno-ureteral colic in outpatient clinics and emergency room were evaluated. The scans were evaluated on Picture Archiving Computer System with a 3-mm axial and reformatted 3-mm coronal sections. Maximal stone diameter was measured in 2 dimensions in the axial and reformatted coronal sections by 2 reviewers. Only scans with isolated, unilateral, solitary ureteric calculi were included in the final analysis. All patients were monitored up to 4 weeks after MDCT to determine the clinical outcome. Results A total of 331 patients (272 male and 59 female; mean age ± standard deviation, 39.8 ± 13.8 years) were included. One hundred seventy-one (51.7%) stones passed spontaneously during the follow-up period. There was a 20% underestimation of maximal stone diameter in axial plane for all stones and a 17% for the stones that passed spontaneously or with medical expulsive therapy, as compared with measurement on coronal reconstruction. Conclusion Measuring the transverse stone diameter on axial images of MDCT scan underestimates size of ureteric stone. This can have an impact on counseling of patients and their clinical outcome, coronal reformatted images be used for size estimation.

Background Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition that is usually managed with early surgery, and is associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, some patients may have atypical symptoms and physical findings that may lead to a delay in diagnosis and increased complications. Ascending subhepatic appendicitis presenting with right upper abdominal pain may be clinically indistinguishable from acute pathology in the gallbladder, liver, biliary tree, right kidney and right urinary tract. Aim of the work To study the role of multidetector computed tomography in diagnosis of subhepatic appendicitis. Subjects & methods In the current study, we included fifteen patients diagnosed radiologically and confirmed surgically as subhepatic appendicitis. Ultrasonography followed by multidetector computed tomographic examination were performed to all patients before surgery. Results The clinical diagnosis of the patients included in this study at presentation was acute cholecystitis in four patients, pyelonephritis in three, and ureteric colic in three. Five patients were referred with uncertain diagnosis. The presence of subhepatic appendicitis was confirmed sonographically only in two patients. Computed tomography (CT) identified correctly subhepatic appendicitis in all cases. Conclusion Our study indicates the usefulness of multidetector CT in diagnosing atypical ascending subhepatic appendicitis.

BackgroundA significant number of patients presenting with ureteric colic and other urinary symptoms have been observed at Rikillagaskada District Base Hospital, situated in the Nuwara-Eliya District, Sri Lanka. Materials and MethodsClinical and demographical features of a total of 116 patients presenting with features of urinary stone disease were analysed from May 2010 to December 2011. ResultsThe mean age of the study sample was 46.61 years (SD=13.22) (range: 18-81 years). This included 72 (62.1%) males with a mean age of 47.69 ± 14.28 years, while the mean age of females was 44.84 ± 11.21 years. The major presenting symptom was flank pain (in 89.7 % of participants) , and dysuria (in 56% of participants). Forty two (36.2%) patients had a past history of ureteric colic. ConclusionsFurther studies with larger populations will be useful in further characterization of clinical and epidemiological data of the population.

A 58-year-old gentleman presented with right side ureteric colic for six months duration. He had undergone an extended pyelolithotomy for a pelviureteric junction calculus 10 years back and he had defaulted follow up. His X-ray KUB revealed a large renal calculus with a calcified feeding tube, along with a large bladder calculus with encrustation of the tube in the bladder. Cystolitholapaxy was performed for the bladder calculus, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy was performed and the renal calculus along with the calcified feeding tube was removed. At the end of the procedure, the patient was left with only a single incision of 2cm length.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Shock wave lithotripsy is the treatment of choice for small renal and upper ureteric stones. This review examines the factors that improve fragmentation and clearance of stones, and recent advances in this area. RECENT FINDINGS Several randomized trials published recently have demonstrated the role of tamsulosin in helping the clearance of ureteric fragments after shock wave lithotripsy. The role of slow shock wave delivery rate has been well established. Percussion, diuresis and inversion have been used to improve results in lower calyceal stones. Few clinical studies have explored the role of position during treatment. The effects of progressive increase of lithotripter output have been demonstrated only in experimental studies. SUMMARY Tamsulosin can be used to increase clearance, and reduce episodes of ureteric colic and the need for analgesics after shock wave lithotripsy. Shock waves at slow rate improve both the safety and efficacy of shock wave lithotripsy. Percussion, diuresis and inversion augments clearance of lower calyceal fragments.

Clinical questionDo calcium channel blockers or alpha blockers improve renal stone passage when compared with placebo?Article chosenPickard R, Starr K, MacLennan G, et al. Medical expulsive therapy in adults with ureteric colic: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2015;386(9991):25-31, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60933-3.

A case of a 45-year old woman with an ovarian dermoid cyst causing ureteric colic secondary to distal ureteral obstruction is reported. The dermoid cyst was observed on computed tomography to be adjacent to and compressing the distal left ureter and this was confirmed at surgical exploration. Following oophorectomy, the patient's symptoms completely resolved and the excised ovarian cyst was confirmed on pathological evaluation to be a dermoid cyst. This appears to be the first reported case of ureteral obstruction caused by an ovarian dermoid cyst in the English medical literature.

Renal (ureteric) colic is a common surgical emergency. It is usually caused by calculi obstructing the ureter, but about 15% of patients have other causes, e.g. extrinsic compression, intramural neoplasia or an anatomical abnormality. This review will focus on calculus-related renal or ureteric colic, its assessment and subsequent management.

Objective: The factors associated with a successful outcome for the treatment of urinary lithiasis are well described. We reviewed current methods of imaging utilised in stone treatment planning, with specific reference to their ability to identify predictors of outcome. Methods: A literature search for articles concerning the investigation and management of patients with urolithiasis was conducted through PubMed ( www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/ ). In addition a hand search of the abstract books from the most recent major urological conferences was performed to identify data of interest that have so far been presented in abstract form only. Results: Non-contrast computed tomography is superior in terms of diagnostic efficacy, with sensitivity and specificity approaching 100%. The intravenous urogram and contrast CT with 3-dimensional reconstruction provide the best anatomical detail. Conclusion: Although non-contrast helical computed tomography is the most sensitive investigation for suspected ureteric colic, the anatomical and functional information afforded by intravenous urography remains important for treatment planning in some patients.

Aortic aneurysms are very rare in Middle East unlike Europe and America. Therefore, this pathology is very likely to be missed in acute presentation to the Emergency Medicine Department. We present a case of leaking abdominal aortic aneurysm mimicking right ureteric colic, which was missed in the initial assessment.

Resume Les auteurs rapportent le cas d’une patiente de 35 ans accusant depuis 7 ans des episodes ressemblant a des coliques nephretiques rebelles en rapport avec une hernie discale thoracique. Le diagnostic a ete pose tardivement en l’absence de troubles neurologiques. Les differentes explorations radiologiques ne retrouvaient pas de lesions au niveau de l’appareil urogenital expliquant cette symptomatologie. L’imagerie par resonance magnetique medullaire a ete performante dans la mise en evidence d’une hernie discale posterolaterale compressive en T10-T11. L’evolution a ete favorable apres une decompression chirurgicale radiculo-medullaire. A notre connaissance, l’association coliques nephretiques et hernie discale thoracique n’a jamais ete rapportee dans la litterature medicale.

The first of the two articles in this section examines the dynamic rates of arterial delivery and renal drainage in patients whose renogram showed a Homsy sign, using optimised computer compartmental modelling. The author found that the standard model was unlikely to be correct, and that the Homsy sign was probably an artefact seen in patients with impeded urinary drainage. In the second, the authors from Budapest studied the effect of drotaverine in patients with ureteric colic; it was of significant help in this condition. OBJECTIVE To estimate the dynamic rates of arterial delivery and renal drainage in renograms with the Homsy sign, using optimized computed compartmental modelling. METHODS Eleven F−15 renograms and one F+15 renogram (using 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine) with the Homsy sign were studied, with 26 controls. Compartmental models were constructed for each renogram using components (blood, renal, bladder) linked by variables (arterial rate, drainage rate). Each model was optimized using the Marquadt least-squares method to numerical data from the time-activity curves (TACs). The model renal component at sample points along the TAC was minimized and the corresponding drainage rates calculated. RESULTS The models were optimized, with a mean (range) r2 of 0.811 (0.68–0.88). There were continuous low drainage rates for all type 4 renograms, with no quadrupling of the flow rate, as predicted by the standard model. CONCLUSION The standard model is unlikely to be correct and the Homsy sign is probably an artefact seen in patients with impeded urinary drainage. Computer modelling of individual renograms is feasible and can provide useful insights into the pathophysiology of renal uptake and drainage.

A 22 year old female came with clinical picture of left sided ureteric colic. On investigation she was found to have a left sided ureteric stone and multiple bladder stones. Xray KUB confirmed the diagnosis (Figure 1a). She was admitted and was started on tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily while she was planned for intravenous urography. On day 2 of admission she passed 2 stones of size 13 mm and one stone of size 15 mm. Thereafter conservative treatment was continued and on day 5 she passed two stones of 15 mm and a stone of 22 mm (Figure 1b and 1c). X-ray KUB was repeated which showed no radio opaque shadow (Figure 1d). As per the guidelines of American Urology Association [1], patients with ureteral stones >10 mm could be observed or treated with MET, in most cases such stones will require surgical treatment. No recommendation can be made for spontaneous passage (with or without medical therapy) for patients with large stones. For stones more than 10 mm conservative management alone is insufficient [2]. Several studies have studied the effects of medical expulsive therapy but in stones not larger than 15 mm [3]. We are astonished by the results of conservative management in this case and want to know the view of your readers for the likely reason and whether to give medical therapy in all patients with larger stones before planning for any surgical intervention.

Özet:Akut apandisit, erken cerrahi müdahale ile tedavi edilen, düşük mortalite ve morbiditeye sahip, sık ğörülen cerrahi bir durumdur. Ancak, bazı hastalarda tanıda ğecikmelere ve artmış komplikasyonlara neden olan atipik semptomlar ve fıziksel bulgular bulunabilir. Atipik prezantasyon, apendiksin atipik yerleşimi ile ilgili olabilir. Sağ üst kadran ağrısı ile prezente olan asendan retroçekal apandisit, klinik olarak akut safra kesesi, karaciğer, safra yolları, sağ böbrek ve sağ üriner sistem yollarına ait akut patolojilerle karışabilir. Biz, ilk etapta klinik tanısı sağ üreter taşı olan akut sağ üst kadran ağrısı ile prezante olan retroçekal apandisit olğusunu sunuyoruz. Ultrason ve bilğisayarlı tomoğrafı incelemeleri sonrası, pararenal yerleşimli retroçekal apandisit ve retroperitonda inflamasyon tanısı konuldu. Cerrahi bulğular apandisitin varlığını ve retroperitoneal uzanımını doğruladı., Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition that is usually managed with early surgery, and is associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, some patients may have atypical symptoms and physical findings that may lead to a delay in diagnosis and increased complications. Atypical presentation may be related to the position of the appendix. Ascending retrocecal appendicitis presenting with right upper abdominal pain may be clinically indistinguishable from acute pathologies in the gallbladder, liver, biliary tree, right kidney and right urinary tract. We here report a case of retrocecal appendicitis presented with acute right upper abdominal pain of which the clinical diagnosis at presentation was right ureteric colic. After the application of ultrasound and computed tomography examinations, pararenal located retrocecal appendicitis and inflammation in the retroperitoneum was diagnosed. Surgical findings confirmed the presence of appendicitis and its retroperitoneal extensions.

Objective: To assess the accuracy and benefit of urgent bedside ultrasound scanning in urological emergencies by urology trainees. Methods: In this prospective study, 111 patients (86 acute flank pain, 15 renal failure, 10 haematuria) referred as urological emergencies, were scanned for urinary tract abnormalities at the bedside, by a trainee urologist, over 18 months. The ultrasound findings were compared with the results of imaging performed by a consultant radiologist and its influence on clinical management analysed. Results: Bedside ultrasound proved life saving in 5 patients (2 pyonephrosis, 2 leaking aneurysms, one bilateral ureteric injury). It significantly influenced management in 11 patients, excluded obstruction in the presence of infection in 13 patients, helped in early diagnosis in 32 patients and ruled out gross urological pathology in 28 patients. It was misleading in 22 patients, mainly with ureteric colic (where the timing of the test can affect the findings), though the outcome was not adversely affected in any. Bedside ultrasound was reasonably accurate (sensitivity 81% and specificity 92%). Conclusions: Bedside ultrasound is a useful tool to help the decision-making in urological emergencies and reasonably accurate in hands of a trainee urologist. It is especially helpful for excluding obstruction in presence of infection or renal failure. However it has inherent limitations in assessing acute ureteric colic.

Non contrast helical computed tomography (CT) study of the abdomen is frequently performed in evaluation of suspected ureteric colic. We present CT images of a young adult male patient who had torsion of an undescended, non-neoplastic testis and describe the “Inguinoscrotal whirlpool sign on CT”.

Urinary tract obstruction is a common problem. It may be acute or chronic, affect the upper or lower urinary tract, or both, and often presents as a urological emergency. In non-acute cases, appropriate management is necessary to prevent irreversible nephron loss and renal failure. In recent years, the techniques available to accurately diagnose the site and extent of obstructive uropathy have become more sophisticated, and many of the conditions responsible lend themselves to less invasive and even laparoscopic keyhole techniques. This chapter examines the various types of obstructive uropathy, their causes and diagnoses and the current surgical techniques available for treatment.