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Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy - Symptom

Alternative Names

Obstructive uropathy - unilateral - acute; Ureteral obstruction

Symptoms:

Abdominal pain, right or left lower quadrant
Abnormal urine color (tan, cola colored, tea colored)
Back pain, may be on only one side
Blood in the urine
Fever
Flank pain or pain in the side
- Severe enough to require strong pain medicine
- Pain on one side; it may move to the groin, genitals, and thigh
- Pain comes and goes; intensity changes over minutes
Foul-smelling urine
High blood pressure that has increased recently (within 2 weeks)
Mental status changes
Nausea
Urinary frequency
Urinary urgency
Urinary tract infection
Vomiting

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Pressing with the fingers on (palpation of) the belly area may reveal a swollen or tender kidney. Blood pressure may be high.

The following tests may be done:

Basic metabolic panel
Complete blood count (CBC)
Urinalysis
Urine culture

Kidney swelling or blockage of the ureter may be seen on these tests:

Kidney anatomy

Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Reviewed last on: 2/9/2009
Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Peters CA. Perinatal urology. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Sauders Elsevier; 2007: chap 109.

Pais VM, Strandhoy JW, Assimos DG. Pathophysiology of urinary tract obstruction. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Sauders Elsevier; 2007: chap 37.

Hsu THS, Streem SB, Nakada SY. Management of upper urinary tract obstruction. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Sauders Elsevier; 2007: chap 38.

Frokiaer J, Zeidel ML. Urinary tract obstruction. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa ; Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 35.

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