Kidney stones or renal calculi are hard deposits formed from minerals and salts in the kidneys that cause pain and complications as they move through the urinary tract. The different types of kidney stones include: Nursing Process Treatment and management of kidney stones will depend on the type and size of the stone. Nursing care … Read more
End-stage renal disease (ESRD), also called end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure, is the final and permanent stage of chronic kidney disease. In this stage, kidneys can no longer function on their own and the patient must receive dialysis or kidney transplantation to survive. Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease Chronic kidney disease is divided into … Read more
Benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH) is a gradual enlargement of the prostate gland (hyperplasia) due to an increase in the size of the cells (hypertrophy). The breakdown of the balance between cellular proliferation and cell death results in excess prostate cells, causing BPH. BPH is very common, affecting half of men by age 60. … Read more
When an urinary tract infection is left untreated, it can spread systemically, leading to urosepsis, causing organ failure and death. Urosepsis is sepsis due to an infection of the urinary tract, bladder, or kidneys. Nearly a quarter of sepsis cases occur from a urogenital infection. Signs and Symptoms Symptoms of urosepsis depend on the infected … Read more
Hematuria is the term used to describe the presence of blood in the urine. Gross hematuria is urine that appears pink, red, or cola-colored. Sometimes the blood cannot be visualized but is found through a urinalysis called microscopic hematuria. Hematuria itself is not painful; however, other associated symptoms and causes can cause pain. Blood in … Read more
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal failure (CRF) is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function. Since the kidneys are highly adaptive organs, kidney disease is often not identified until there is a considerable loss of nephrons. Patients with early CKD are often asymptomatic, and symptoms may not be recognized until … Read more
Pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidneys and is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract. Escherichia coli is considered the most common organism causing pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis can be categorized as acute or chronic. Acute pyelonephritis is referred to as an active bacterial infection of the kidneys while the chronic type … Read more
Acute kidney injury (AKI), also known as Acute Renal Failure (ARF) occurs when the kidneys lose their filtering ability resulting in the build-up of waste products in the blood. This condition develops rapidly, in hours or days, and is common in critically ill patients. This condition affects other organs in the body if not treated … Read more
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) result from pathogens invading the urethra, bladder, and/or kidneys. While any bacteria can cause UTIs, Escherichia coli is the bacteria typically responsible. UTIs are one of the most common hospital-acquired infections. When this type of infection occurs due to urinary catheterization, it is known as a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). … Read more
