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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
Published on: June 21, 2024
[Calculous renal failure and pregnancy]
Séverine Forget1, Christophe Avances, Olivier Dubon
1Service d'Urologie-Andrologie, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Caremeau, 30900 Nimes.
Abstract:
Obstructive renal failure is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. Although most cases are due to extrinsic compression, renal tract obstruction can also be due to intraluminal precipitation of sulfadiazine prescribed for maternofoetal toxoplasmosis. The diagnosis is suggested by clinical history, ultrasound (radiolucent stones situated anywhere in the renal tract) and especially analysis of the urine pellet (wheat sheaf formation of yellowish crystals). Urinary drainage by double J stent or percutaneous nephrotomy is indicated in the absence of clinical improvement in response to symptomatic treatment and adequate alkaline rehydration. The risk of sulfadiazine crystallization must be systematically prevented by a sufficient water intake and urinary alkalinization right from the start of treatment.
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Dialysis
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...