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For educational use only. Content is AI-generated, may contain errors, and is not medical advice — always verify against current primary sources and faculty guidance before clinical use.

HomeRenalNephrolithiasis
🫘

Nephrolithiasis

Renal · ~5% of blueprint
🔬Pathophysiology
Urinary supersaturation → stone formation (calcium oxalate is most common).
🩺Signs & Symptoms
Sudden severe colicky flank pain in waves radiating to groin/testis or labia, hematuria, N/V, restlessness.
🎯Gold Standard Diagnosis
Non-contrast CT abdomen/pelvis (gold standard); ultrasound in pregnancy.
💊First-line Treatment
Hydration + analgesia (NSAIDs); tamsulosin optional (benefit mainly distal 5–10 mm); urology if obstructing.
Drug cardsIbuprofenTamsulosin
High-Yield Pearl

Stones <5 mm usually pass; obstruction with infection is a urologic emergency.

Sources

Reviewed September 2026
  1. Canadian Urological Association guideline: Management of ureteral calculi (full-text version) — Canadian Urological Association, 2021
  2. UPDATE - Canadian Urological Association guideline: Evaluation and medical management of kidney stones — Canadian Urological Association, 2022
  3. StatPearls: Renal Calculi, Nephrolithiasis — StatPearls Publishing (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024

Checked against the guideline or standard reference the exam keys to. If it has moved, use Report an error below.

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