Definitions for abbreviations

1. Rosa Razo
October 17, 2012
Sources: http:// www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides

2. • BUN – source: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-
guides/blood-urea-nitrogen
• 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. • 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 high creatinine level may mean your
kidneys are not working properly. BUN and
creatinine tests can be used together to find the
BUN:creatinine
• A BUN-to-creatinine ratio can help your doctor
check for problems, such as dehydration, that
may cause abnormal BUN and creatinine
levels.

4. • 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 A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test is done to
• Check for severe dehydration. Dehydration
generally causes BUN levels to rise more than
creatinine levels. This causes a high BUN-to-
creatinine ratio. Kidney disease or blockage of
the flow of urine from your kidney causes both
BUN and creatinine levels to go up.

5. • 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 catheter.

6. • 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. • 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. • 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. Bacteria may
travel up the ureters to multiply and infect the kidneys.
A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis.

9. • 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.  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.  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.  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.  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