engleski

Ultrasonographic confirmation of clinical diagnosis of nephrolithiasis in family medicine

Introduction: Ultrasonography is starting to be a part of the usual diagnostic procedures in family medicine dispensaries. The costs of ultrasonographic devices are getting more accessible, especially when they are being purchased within group practice. Education is available and suitable for family medicine physicans, and usually, six months time is long enough to master the basic of ultrasonographic diagnostic of abdomen. Aims: to determine justification of presence of the ultrasonographic diagnostic in the family medicine dispensary at the appearance of common acute conditions, which demand fast and accurate diagnosis ans reaction. Methods: 168 patients, from one group practice made of six family medicine specialists, who all had nephrolithiasis diagnosis based on a clinical exam and case history, were analyzed. All patients underwent an abdominal ultrasonographic examination. A black and white, high resolution ultrasonograph with a 3.5 Mhz convex probe was used. Results: in 59 cases (35, 12%), renal calculi were ultrasonographically confirmed. Topographically, following findings were discovered: obstructive pyonephrosis in 2 cases (3, 38%), obstructive hidronephrosis in 3 cases (5, 08%), bladder calculi in 5 cases (8, 47%), ureteral calculi in 11 cases (18, 64%), pielic renal calculi in 38 cases(64, 42%). Conclusion: ultrasonographic diagnostics are simple to use, inexpensive, can be repeatedly applied, needs no special preparation of the patient, it is available in smaller healthcare offices. Its capability to instantly confirm the diagnosis significantly speeds the begining of adequate therapy or the determination of further procedures.

ultrasonography; family medicine; nephrolithiasis; examination; calculi

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