Lesson 1Relevant renal and urinary tract anatomy: kidney, collecting system, ureteral course, relations causing referred painThis lesson reviews kidney and tube anatomy for stone issues, covering cups, centre, narrow tube spots, blood vessel and pelvic links, and why pain shoots to side, groin, or private parts.
Renal cortex, medulla, and collecting systemRenal pelvis and calyceal anatomyUreteral course and narrow segmentsRelations to vessels, bowel, and pelvisPathways of referred flank and groin painLesson 2History elements: onset, prior stones, metabolic history, family history, medication/occupation risk factorsThis lesson lists key history for suspected stones, like pain start, past stones, body chemistry ills, family links, food, drugs, work, and factors foretelling repeats or troubles.
Character and timing of pain episodesPast stones, procedures, and outcomesMetabolic and systemic disease historyFamily history and genetic conditionsDiet, fluid intake, drugs, occupationLesson 3Physical exam maneuvers: costovertebral angle tenderness, abdominal exam, testicular/inguinal exam when indicatedThis lesson details targeted body checks for sudden side pain, covering vitals, belly and back tender spots, private and groin exams when needed, and signs of other causes.
Vital signs and overall illness severityCostovertebral angle tenderness techniqueAbdominal exam for peritonitis or massGenital and inguinal exam when neededSigns pointing away from stone diseaseLesson 4Stone prevention basics: metabolic workup indications, 24-hour urine testing, dietary and pharmacologic prevention strategiesThis lesson starts stone stopping, covering when for body checks, full-day urine tests, food advice, drink targets, and drug plans matched to stone kind and personal risks.
Who needs full metabolic workupCollecting and interpreting 24‑hour urineFluid intake and urine volume targetsDietary sodium, protein, and oxalate advicePharmacologic prevention by stone typeLesson 5Acute management: analgesia ladder (NSAIDs vs opioids), antiemetics, medical expulsive therapy evidence and limitsThis lesson covers handling kidney pain bouts with NSAID painkillers first, careful strong pain drugs, anti-sick meds, fluids, stone-pushing drug proof and bounds, and watch vs admit rules.
Analgesia ladder and NSAID first strategyOpioid indications and safety concernsAntiemetics and fluid managementMedical expulsive therapy evidenceDisposition, follow‑up, and return precautionsLesson 6Evidence sources: major guidelines and reviews for suspected kidney stones (names and years to search)This lesson sums key guidelines and reviews for possible kidney stones, noting big groups, years, and quick search and check ways to steer tests and treatments.
Major urology and nephrology guidelinesEmergency medicine stone care guidelinesHigh‑impact systematic reviews and yearsSearching PubMed and guideline portalsAppraising guideline strength and gapsLesson 7Initial diagnostics: urinalysis for hematuria/infection, urine microscopy, serum electrolytes, renal function, inflammatory markersThis lesson details starting lab work for stone suspects, like urine for blood/bugs, microscope views, blood salts, kidney work, and swelling markers, with reads for sorting and risks.
Urinalysis for hematuria and infectionUrine microscopy for crystals and castsSerum creatinine and estimated GFRElectrolytes, calcium, and uric acidInflammatory markers and sepsis cluesLesson 8Indications for emergent urology referral: obstruction with infection, refractory pain, impaired renal function, anuriaThis lesson sets urgent urology call cases, like blocked infected systems, unstoppable pain or vomiting, one kidney fails, no urine, plus special pregnancy and child notes.
Obstruction with sepsis or high feverRefractory pain or intractable vomitingAcute kidney injury and solitary kidneyAnuria, bilateral obstruction, pregnancyPediatric and complex comorbidity casesLesson 9Imaging strategy: when to use non-contrast CT KUB, ultrasound in pregnancy, plain radiography limitations, contrast indicationsThis lesson picks scans for stone suspects, main on no-dye CT belly, pregnancy/kid ultrasound, x-ray limits, and dye needs for troubles.
Non‑contrast CT KUB indicationsUltrasound in pregnancy and youthStrengths and limits of plain radiographyWhen to use contrast CT or urographyRadiation exposure and dose reductionLesson 10Stone pathophysiology and types: calcium, uric acid, struvite, cystine — formation mechanisms and metabolic risk factorsThis lesson reviews stone makeup and making, covering calcium, acid, infection, and rare types, crystal starts, overfull urine, bug links, and body/anatomy risks.
Calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stonesUric acid stone formation mechanismsStruvite stones and urease‑producing bacteriaCystine stones and inherited disordersMetabolic, urinary, and anatomic risk factorsLesson 11Typical clinical presentation: colic characteristics, hematuria, nausea/vomiting, pain radiation to groin/scrotum/labiaThis lesson explains usual and odd kidney pain signs, pain feel, timing, spread, urine and gut links, and danger flags for other serious ills.
Pain onset, severity, and colicky patternRadiation to flank, groin, and genitaliaHematuria and lower urinary symptomsNausea, vomiting, and autonomic signsRed flags for alternative diagnoses
