Urology for People

214 Urology Journal    Vol 7    No 3    Summer 2010

PERSISTENT ERECTION CAN BE 
DANGEROUS
Priapism is a painful and persistent erection that is 
not associated with sexual activity or desire, and does 
not subside after sexual intercourse or masturbation. 
This disorder usually mandates prompt medical 
attention. If priapism lasts more than 4 hours, it 
can result in erectile dysfunction or impotence. It is 
quite prevalent in certain conditions. For example, in 
ethnic groups (South of Iran) with sickle cell disease, 
it has been reported to affect approximately 40% of 
men. Idiopathic (the cause is unknown) priapism 
accounts for as many as half of all documented cases. 
Priapism can occur with some medications. With 
the introduction of intracavernously (intrapenile) 
administered drugs for impotence, priapism resulting 
from the use of these agents is being increasingly 
diagnosed. The rate of priapism with the above 
mentioned agents in young men without significant 
erectile dysfunction is higher. Despite the risk of 
aphrodisiacs (erectile function enhancer), their 
prescription and use are increasing markedly. Self 
administration of any medication that may affect 
erectile function should be avoided.

See page 174 for full-text article

RENAL COLIC OR FLANK PAIN
Kidney stone affects 13% of men and 7% of women 
during their lifetime. Renal colic is an acute and 
severe pain related to the migration of calculus along 
the urinary tract. Pain associated with renal colic is 
often reported as the more intense that patients can 
experience. It should be mentioned that more than 
one third of patients presenting to the emergency 
department with flank pain have significant findings 
other than renal stone. Twenty-four percent of 
these patients have findings that require immediate 
attention, such as appendicitis and cholecystitis. 
Therefore, in patients with a history of kidney 

stone, recurrent flank pain should not be attributed 
absolutely to kidney stone. It is worthwhile to 
know that patients with acute renal colic could 
be especially vulnerable to receiving different care 
depending on the timing of their presentation. 
Generally, weekend presentation is associated with 
lower rates of intervention and with treatment delays. 
Because the decision for acute intervention is made 
by clinical judgment, the decisions to intervene could 
vary by whether the patient presents in the weekend 
and could be vulnerable to a range of external 
pressures.

See page 148 for full-text article

INBORN KIDNEY ABNORMALITIES
Kidney abnormalities (anomalies) are frequently 
detected on the routine second trimester 
ultrasonography offered to pregnant women. 
Congenital genitourinary tract anomalies occur 
commonly in the general population. Unilateral 
renal absence is a relatively common kidney anomaly 
that is noted in 1:1,000. The absence of a kidney is 
usually without symptoms. Knowledge of these 
conditions is essential for adequate management of 
the pregnancy and effective parental counseling. 
Pregnancies complicated by fetal renal anomalies 
are at risk for newborn baby respiratory and renal 
insufficiency. Detailed obstetric ultrasound scans in the 
second trimester of pregnancy can detect genitourinary 
abnormalities. Some of the kidney anomalies are 
incompatible with life, and some may require 
intrauterine or early neonatal intervention. Therefore, 
in some instances prior to childbirth, diagnosis of renal 
anomalies can save the life of newborn baby. If an 
anomaly is detected prior to childbirth, necessary 
interventions can significantly lessen maternal and 
child complications. All pregnant women should 
undergo ultrasonography in the second trimester.

See page 161 for full-text article

what’s Up in Urology Journal, Summer 2010?

Urology for People is a section in the Urology Journal for providing people 
with a summary of what is published in this journal and describing 
urological entities in a simple language.

Important Note. The findings in medical papers are usually not directly 
applicable in clinical practice and patients should consult their physicians 
before any utilization of the results of medical studies.

Urol J. 2010;7:214. 
www.uj.unrc.ir