Acute unilateral obstructive uropathy

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Female urinary tract

Kidney anatomy

Male urinary tract

Obstructive uropathy - unilateral - acute; Ureteral obstruction

• Severe flank pain or pain in the side
  • Severe enough to require strong pain medicine
  • Pain on one side; it may move to the groin, genitals, and thigh
  • Pain comes and goes; intensity changes over minutes
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Back pain , may be on only one side
• Abdominal pain, right or left lower quadrant
• Blood in the urine
• Abnormal urine color (tan, cola colored, tea colored)
• High blood pressure that has increased recently (within 2 weeks)
• Urinary tract infection
• Fever
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary urgency
• Foul-smelling urine
• Mental status changes

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Palpation of the belly area reveals an swollen or tender kidney. Blood pressure may be high.

The following tests may be done:

• Urinalysis
• Urine culture
• CBC
• Basic metabolic panel

Hydronephrosis or obstruction of the ureter may appear on these tests:

• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Abdominal CT scan
• Renal nuclear scan

Review Date: 01/16/2007
Reviewed By: Marc Greenstein, DO, Urologist, North Jersey Center for Urologic Care, Denville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.