Chapter 9; Abbreviations

1. Chapter 9 – Urinary System
Definitions
Rosa Razo
October 17, 2012
Sources: http:// www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides

2. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
• A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount
of nitrogen in your blood that comes from the waste
product urea. Urea is made when protein is broken
down in your body. Urea is made in the liver and
passed out of your body in the urine
• A BUN test is done to see how well your kidneys are
working. If your kidneys are not able to remove urea
from the blood normally, your BUN level rises.. Heart
failure, dehydration or a diet high in protein can also
make your BUN level higher. Liver disease or damage
can lower your BUN level. A low BUN level can occur
normally in the second or third trimester of pregnancy

3. BUN to Creatinine Ratio
(BUN:creatinine)
• A BUN test may be done with a blood
creatinine test. The level of creatinine in your
blood also tells how well your kidneys are
working
• A BUN-to-creatinine ratio can help your doctor
check for problems, such as dehydration, that
may cause abnormal BUN and creatinine
levels.

4. Why a BUN Test is Done
• To see if your kidneys are working normally.
• To see if your kidney disease is getting worse.
• To see if treatment of your kidney disease is
working
• Check for severe dehydration. Dehydration
generally causes BUN levels to rise more than
creatinine levels
• Kidney disease or blockage of the flow of urine
from your kidney causes both BUN and creatinine
levels to rise

5. Retrograde Pyelogram (RP)
• RP is a diagnostic x-ray in which dye is inserted
through the urethra to outline the
bladder, ureters, and renal pelvis
• Generally, this test is performed during a
procedure called cystoscopy – evaluation of
the bladder with an endoscope
• During a cystoscopy, contrast dye, which helps
enhance the X-ray images, can be introduced
into the ureters via a cathete.

6. Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
(ESWL)
• ESWL uses shock waves to break a kidney
stone into small pieces that can more easily
travel through the urinary tract and pass from
the body
• ESWL may be used on people with a kidney
stone that is causing pain or blocking the urine
flow. Stones that are between 4 mm (0.16 in.)
and 2 cm (0.8 in.) in diameter are most likely
to be treated with ESWL.

7. What to Expect During ESWL
Procedure
• You lie on a water-filled cushion, and the surgeon uses X-
rays or ultrasound tests to precisely locate the stone. High-
energy sound waves pass through your body without
injuring it and break the stone into small pieces. These
small pieces move through the urinary tract and out of the
body more easily than a large stone.
• The process takes about an hour.
• You may receive sedatives or local anesthesia
• Your surgeon may use a stent if you have a large stone. A
stent is a small, short tube of flexible plastic mesh that
holds the ureter open; this helps the small stone pieces to
pass without blocking the ureter

8. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract
• Infections are caused by microbes—organisms too small to
be seen without a microscope—including
fungi, viruses, and bacteria
• Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs.
Normally, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are rapidly
removed by the body before they cause symptoms.
• Bacteria may overcome the body’s natural defenses and
cause infection, causing an infection in the urethra
(urethritis)
• A bladder infection is called cystitis
• A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis

9. What causes UTIs?
• Most are caused by bacteria that live in the bowel
• The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes the
majority of UTIs
• Microbes called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma can
infect the urethra and reproductive system but
not the bladder
• Chlamydia and Mycoplasma infections may be
sexually transmitted and require treatment of
sexual partners

10. Who is at risk for a UTI?
• People with spinal cord injuries
• People with other nerve damage around the
bladder
• Anyone with an abnormality of the urinary
tract that obstructs the flow of urine
(i.e.kidney stone or enlarged prostate)
• People with diabetes

11. Catheterization (cath)
• Urinary catheterization is the insertion of a
catheter into a patient's bladder. The catheter
is used as a conduit to drain urine from the
bladder into an attached bag or container

12. Purpose of Catheterization
• Urinary catheterization is used to maintain
urine output in patients who are undergoing
surgery
• Patients who are confined to the bed and
physically unable to use a bedpan
• Critically ill patients who require strict
monitoring of urinary output

13. Risks of Catheterizations
• Trauma to the urethra and/or bladder may
result from incorrect insertion of the catheter
• Repeated irritation to the urethra during
catheter insertion may cause scarring and/or
stricture, or narrowing, of the urethra
• Catheter may introduce bacteria into the
urethra and bladder, resulting in urinary tract
infection