Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 20, 2025
06:37
An Immature Murine Model of Reversible Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction
Published on: April 4, 2025
555
Impacted urethral stone presenting as urinary retention in a child
Kelly Storm Hoffmann1, Alok Godse2
1Paediatric Surgery, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK kelly.hoffmann@nhs.net.
BMJ Case Reports
|January 26, 2021
Summary
Urethral stones are rare in children but can cause urinary retention. This case highlights the importance of considering urethral stones in pediatric patients with urinary symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Nephrolithiasis
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children.
- Pyelonephritis, a severe UTI, requires prompt treatment.
- Urethral stones are an uncommon cause of urinary retention in pediatric patients.
Observation:
- A 7-year-old boy presented with urinary retention and failed urethral catheterization.
- Cystourethroscopy revealed an impacted urethral stone.
- A suprapubic catheter was placed due to the inability to dislodge the stone.
Findings:
- Investigations identified a pure calcium oxalate stone of secondary origin.
- The patient experienced no recurrence of urethral stones during a 6-month follow-up period.
Implications:
- Urethral stones should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric urinary retention, hematuria, or abdominal pain.
- This case underscores the importance of thorough evaluation in pediatric urinary emergencies.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
216
Renal calculi, commonly termed kidney stones, are crystalline solid masses that form in the kidneys but can occur at any point within the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.The pathophysiology of renal stones involves several key factors: supersaturation of the urine with stone-forming constituents, changes in urine pH, a decrease in urine volume, and the presence of substances that promote or inhibit stone formation.Supersaturation of Urine: This is the...
216
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management
132
AssessmentSubjective Data: Obtain a detailed health history, including any recent or chronic urinary tract infections, periods of immobilization, previous episodes of renal calculi, and medical conditions such as gout, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or hyperparathyroidism. Review the medication history for drugs that may influence stone formation, including allopurinol, analgesics, loop diuretics, or thiazide diuretics. Document the use of long-term indwelling catheters and any past surgical...
132
01:30Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
85
The diagnosis of renal calculi involves several imaging techniques, including non-contrast CT scans and ultrasound. These methods help visualize kidney stones, assess their size and location, and detect possible obstructions. Additionally, Measuring urine pH is useful for diagnosing specific stone types, such as struvite (alkaline pH) and uric acid stones (acidic pH). Cystine stones are primarily linked to cystinuria, a genetic condition. A urinalysis helps detect blood in the urine (hematuria)...
85
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
133
Procedures for Kidney StonesMedical intervention is necessary when kidney stones or renal calculi are too large to pass spontaneously (typically greater than 5 millimeters) when stones are accompanied by symptomatic infection (such as fever or pyelonephritis), when they impair kidney function, or when they cause persistent symptoms like severe pain, nausea, or urinary retention. Additionally, patients with only one kidney or those who cannot be treated with medical management also require...
133
01:28Urinary Tract Calculi I: Introduction
225
Renal calculi, or kidney stones, are solid deposits of minerals and salts formed inside the kidneys. In medical terminology, "calculus" refers to the stone itself, while "lithiasis" describes the process of stone formation. Depending on their location within the urinary system, these stones may be classified as either urolithiasis, when situated within the urinary tract, or nephrolithiasis, when located within the kidneys. Each term signifies the specific impact of the stone.Predisposition...
225
01:27Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
204
Management of renal calculi focuses on effective strategies like tailored nutrition and hydration therapy. Adjusting diet and fluid intake reduces stone formation and recurrence, making these interventions simple yet powerful in kidney stone prevention and management.Understanding Kidney StonesKidney stones form when calcium, oxalate, uric acid, and cystine concentrate and crystallize in urine. Factors contributing to their formation include genetic predisposition, certain medical conditions,...
204