Cause Of Acute Flank Pain Research Articles

Earlier point-of-care ultrasound, shorter length of stay in patients with acute flank pain

BackgroundThe effects of early integration of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) into patient care are uncertain. This study aims to investigate the effects of early PoCUS on patients with acute flank pain.MethodsAdult non-traumatic patients with acute flank pain receiving PoCUS were enrolled. Expert physicians reviewed the medical records and made the “final diagnosis” for the cause of acute flank pain. The primary outcome was the relationship between the door to ultrasound (US) time and length of stay (LOS). The secondary outcomes included the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the sonographic diagnosis, compared with the final diagnosis.ResultsEight hundred and eighty-eight patients were included in the analysis. Patients receiving early PoCUS (≤120 min) had a shorter LOS (128 vs. 217 min, p < 0.0001). Patients in the late POCUS group (> 120 min) had a trend to receive more CT scans. The disease distribution, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were similar in patients receiving early or late PoCUS for target diagnoses. After adjusting for the confounders, early PoCUS (OR, 2.77, 95% CIs, 1.93–3.98) had a positive impact on shorter LOS. In addition, the effect of early PoCUS became more prominent (OR, 4.91, 95% CIs, 3.39–7.13) on LOS in less than 3 h.ConclusionsEarly integration of PoCUS is significantly related to shorter LOS in patients with acute flank pain without increasing morbidity and mortality. Our results suggested “PoCUS early” in these patients to possibly alleviate emergency department crowding.Trial registration NCT04149041 at the ClinicalTrial.gov.

Spontaneous rupture of adrenal myelolipoma as a cause of acute flank pain: A case report

BACKGROUNDAdrenal myelolipoma is a rare, benign, non-functioning mass that occurs in the adrenal gland. It is composed of an admixture of hematopoietic elements and mature adipose tissue, similar to bone marrow. Even at large sizes, adrenal myelolipomas are usually asymptomatic and often incidentally found by ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT) scan. This paper describes an unusual case of adrenal myelolipoma presenting as flank pain.CASE SUMMARYA 50-year-old male with severe right flank pain underwent a CT scan revealing a huge mass extending into the suprarenal space. The mass showed a fat component with retroperitoneal hemorrhage. The tumor was treated laparoscopically, and pathologic examination revealed features of myelolipoma originating from the adrenal gland.CONCLUSIONAdrenal myelolipomas are generally asymptomatic and can be treated conservatively. However, rupture and hemorrhage of the tumor can cause symptoms requiring surgical removal.

THE ROLE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE DETECTION OF UROLITHIASIS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RENAL COLIC

This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic Ultrasonography compared to unenhanced helical CT scan in detecting urinary stones in patients with acute renal colic. This retrospective study comprised of 156 patients who undergo unenhanced urinary tract CT scan and ultrasonography for thought of urolithiasis. Both techniques were used to resolve the presence or absence, site, size, and number of urinary stones, as well as company of any other intra-abdominal pathology. For statistical analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography were deliberate considering unenhanced CT scan as a gold normal. Unpaired two-tailed student’s t-test was used for judgment between mean size of true positive, false positive, and false negative stones. There were 68 patients having 115 urinary stones. Ultrasound identified 54 stones, missed 43, and falsely diagnosed 18 stones. The mean size of true positive, false positive, and false negative stones were 4.8 ± 3.3 mm, 6 ± 1.8 mm and 4.18 ± 3 mm, respectively. There were 23 patients with other intra-abdominal pathologies, equally detected by both techniques. Ultrasound helped in identifying the cause of acute flank pain in 62% of cases. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and correctness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of renal stone disease were 58%, 91%, 79%, 78%, and 78%, respectively. Our study suggests that, despite its limited value in detecting urinary stones, ultrasonography should be performed as an initial assessment in patients with acute flank pain. Unenhanced helical CT should be reserved for patients in whom ultrasonography is uncertain.&#x0D; Keywords: Ultrasonography, CT scan

Acute renal artery stenting recovered renal function after spontaneous rupture of renal artery aneurysm – case report

PurposeRenal artery aneurysms (RAAs) are a rare vascular pathology with an estimated prevalence of 0.1% to 2.5%. Rupture of RAA is an extremely unusual cause of acute flank pain and haemodynamic instability with acute kidney failure and high mortality rate (20%).Case reportA 37-year-old male with no relevant history presented to the Emergency Room with acute right flank pain. Initial examination revealed BP 90/60 mm Hg and tachycardia. Initial blood testing was unremarkable, with a haemoglobin level of 9.4 g/dl. Urinalysis revealed moderate blood. Ultrasound (US) examination depicted aneurysm of the right renal artery 6 x 6 cm, with signs of blood extravasation visible in colour and power Doppler. The patient was referred for urgent computed tomography angiography, which revealed active bleeding from the ruptured aneurysm with haematoma spreading into the right retroperitoneum. He was subjected to emergency endovascular treatment. The patient was treated by successful implantation of a Viabahn stent (GORE, Daleware, USA). Selective nephrography revealed lack of flow through one of the segmental arteries resulting from vasospasm due to the placement of the guiding wire necessary for safe stent implantation.ConclusionsThe authors present a rare case of spontaneous RAA rupture in a young male successfully treated with endovascular methods. Stent implantation required selective catheterisation of segmental arteries of the kidney, which resulted in the loss of one of them. However, control Doppler US disclosed no ischaemia and successful exclusion of the aneurysm.

Renal infarctions caused by dissections of surnumerary renal arteries

Renal infarction is an uncommon and underdiagnosed cause of acute flank pain. We describe a 48-year-old male patient, previously diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, who presented with multiple renal infarctions, secondary to multiple dissections of the aberrant renal vascular anatomy.

Computed Tomography in the Nontraumatic Renal Causes of Acute Flank Pain

Renal colic pain due to obstructing stone is the main renal cause of acute flank pain. However, other causes may be responsible for the same clinical findings, including acute pyelonephritis, acute vascular conditions, and hemorrhage. The purpose of this review is to describe the differential diagnosis, the computed tomographic findings and pitfalls, and the role and impact of computed tomography in the diagnosis and management of the renal causes of acute flank pain.

Investigation of Acute Flank Pain: How Do Practices of U.K. and Irish Urologists Compare with Those of Transatlantic and Continental European Colleagues?

Noncontrast-enhanced spiral CT (NESCT) is more accurate and reliable than intravenous urography (IVU) in diagnosing the cause of acute flank pain. This study aimed to determine the impact of current literature on the choice of imaging modality used to investigate acute flank pain within the UK and the Republic of Ireland. A questionnaire regarding the preferred investigation for acute flank pain was sent to all consultant urologists registered as British Association of Urological Surgeons members. Of the 548 consultants from 210 institutions surveyed, 293 (54%) from 171 (81.4%) institutions returned their questionnaires. Intravenous urography is used in the majority of institutions (146; 85.4%) for investigating acute flank pain. Only 18 (10.5%) use NESCT, while 4.1% use ultrasonography. Among those using IVU as the investigation of choice, the main reason given was limited CT services (82.4%). Others included familiarity with IVU features (51.2%), limited availability of radiologists for out-of-hours reporting of CT (26%), more rapid procedure (20.8%), lower cost (20%), and lower radiation exposure (19.6%). Only 52.4% of consultants using IVU would prefer NESCT if both were equally available. Urography remains the commonest modality for the investigation of acute flank pain in the UK and Ireland primarily because of limited CT services and greater familiarity with the images. Given the opportunity, only half of consultant urologists would select NESCT in preference to IVU, suggesting that improving the availability of CT services alone may not lead to practice paralleling that of our transatlantic and continental European colleagues.

Mimics of renal colic: alternative diagnoses at unenhanced helical CT.

During the past decade, unenhanced computed tomography (CT) has become the standard of reference in the detection of urinary calculi owing to its high sensitivity (>95%) and specificity (>98%) in this setting. Numerous diseases may manifest as acute flank pain and mimic urolithiasis. Up to one-third of unenhanced CT examinations performed because of flank pain may reveal unsuspected findings unrelated to stone disease, many of which can help explain the patient's condition. Alternative diagnoses are most commonly related to gynecologic conditions (especially adnexal masses) and nonstone genitourinary disease (eg, pyelonephritis, renal neoplasm), closely followed by gastrointestinal disease (especially appendicitis and diverticulitis). Hepatobiliary, vascular, and musculoskeletal conditions may also be encountered. Vascular causes of acute flank pain must always be considered, since these constitute life-threatening emergencies that may require the intravenous administration of contrast material for diagnosis. Radiologists must be familiar with the typical findings of urinary stone disease at unenhanced CT, as well as the spectrum of alternative diagnoses that may be detected with this modality, to accurately diagnose the source of flank pain.

Helical CT scanning: The primary imaging modality for acute flank pain

We set out to evaluate the accuracy of nonenhanced helical computed tomography (CT) scanning at stone detection in the patient with acute flank pain, and as a means of detecting noncalculus causes of acute flank pain. Between April 1995 and April 1997, 412 consecutive patients with acute flank pain underwent noncontrast-enhanced helical CT. Two hundred eighty-one patients had confirmation of their CT diagnosis by other radiographic studies, urologic intervention, or spontaneous stone passage of calculi. We determined the presence or absence of urinary calculi, as well as the presence of other noncalculus pathology. CT scanning revealed a stone in 92/281 patients (32.7%) and no stone in 189/281 patients (67.3%). Of the 189 patients, 60/189 patients (32%) had another positive finding as a cause for flank pain. Eighty-one of 92 patients with a stone on CT (88%) had confirmation of stone disease by radiologic or surgical intervention. Eleven of 92 patients (12%) did not have confirmation of their diagnosis because of resolution of symptoms or refusal of further intervention. On helical CT scans 129/189 patients demonstrated no abnormalities. Two of 189 (1.5%) thought to be stone free by CT passed a stone. Helical CT had a sensitivity of 97%, a specificity of 92%, a positive predictive value of 88%, and a negative predictive value of 98% at stone detection. Noncontrast-enhanced helical CT is accurate and rapid in detecting calculus disease in patients with acute flank pain. Perhaps more importantly, it provides the added benefit of detecting noncalculus causes of flank pain in greater than 30% of patients. (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:649-652.

Can noncontrast helical computed tomography replace intravenous urography for evaluation of patients with acute urinary tract colic?

The objective of this study was to determine whether helical computed tomography (CT) performed without oral or intravenous contrast agents is accurate in the evaluation of patients with suspected acute renal colic. One hundred consecutive patients with suspected renal colic or ureteral colic were referred by our institution’s emergency department for unenhanced helical CT scans. We reviewed the original radiographic report for each patient and recorded the size and location of ureteral calculi and other concurrent urinary tract calculi, if any. We also recorded the presence or absence of hydronephrosis, hydroureter, perinephric edema, and periureteral edema. A total of 49 patients had ureteral calculi, 17 patients had only renal calculi, and 34 patients had no stones. Forty-nine patients had ureteral calculi, and 40 (82%) of these 49 patients had associated CT signs including hydroureter and periureteral edema. Calculi were present in the proximal ureter in 11 patients, the midureter in seven patients, and the distal ureter including ureterovesical junction in 31 patients. Calculi were seen elsewhere in the urinary tract and renal pelvis in 44 patients. Other diagnostic tests and stone passage were used to confirm the CT diagnosis of ureteral stones. The sensitivity and specificity of helical CT in evaluating ureteral calculi were 100% and 94%, respectively. Sixteen extraurinary lesions were detected in 34 patients who had no urinary calculi. Most extraurinary lesions (81%) were deemed the cause of acute flank pain. The room time for CT averaged 26 min, compared to 69 min for intravenous urography (IVU). The charge for CT was $600 compared to $400 for IVU in our institution. Unenhanced helical CT was fast and accurate in determining the cause of colic and proved to be highly accurate for emergency situations.

THE VALUE OF UNENHANCED HELICAL COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE FLANK PAIN

Purpose We developed an algorithm using unenhanced computerized tomography (CT) for the management of acute flank pain and suspected ureteral obstruction. Materials and Methods During a 25-month interval 417 patients with acute flank pain underwent unenhanced helical CT. The final diagnosis was confirmed by additional imaging or clinical followup. For all patients who underwent additional imaging studies the official dictated radiology reports were used to determine whether the studies were recommended based on CT findings. Cases requiring intervention were evaluated to determine whether additional imaging was performed before the procedure. Medical records were reviewed and/or patients were interviewed to document the course of therapy and long-term outcome. Results Unenhanced helical CT diagnosed ureteral stone disease with 95% sensitivity, 98% specificity and 97% accuracy. Of the 38 patients requiring intervention, including nephrostomy catheters in 18, lithotripsy in 3 and ureteroscopic stone extraction in 7, additional imaging (excretory urography) was performed in only 1. Additional imaging studies generated by CT were done in 3 cases in which the dictated reports were indeterminate for ureteral stones, including negative excretory urography in 2 and retrograde urography in 1. In 1 patient in whom CT misdiagnosed a ureteral stone unnecessary retrograde urography revealed the calcification to be a gonadal vein phlebolith. Seven patients with false-negative examinations reported spontaneous stone passage with no complications. Conclusions Unenhanced helical CT accurately determines the presence or absence of ureterolithiasis in patients with acute flank pain. CT precisely identifies stone size and location. When ureterolithiasis is absent, other causes of acute flank pain can be identified. In most cases additional imaging is not required.