Pyel Health Dictionary

An inflammation of the kidney pelvis, the interface between the urine-secreting inner surface of the kidney and the muscular ureter that drains into the bladder. It can be caused by kidney stones or an infection that has progressed up from the lower urinary tract. It alone is a serious condition...the next stage, pyelonephritis, since it involves the whole kidney, is still worse.... pyelitis

The process whereby the KIDNEYS are rendered radio-opaque, and therefore visible on an X- ray ?lm. It constitutes a most important part of the examination of a patient with kidney disease. (See SODIUM DIATRIZOATE.)... pyelography

Surgery to remove a stone from the kidney (see KIDNEYS, DISEASES OF) via an incision in the pelvis of the kidney.... pyelolithotomy

In?ammation of the kidney (see KIDNEYS), usually the result of bacterial infection. The in?ammation may be acute or chronic. Acute pyelonephritis comes on suddenly, is commoner in women, and tends to occur when they are pregnant. Infection usually spreads up the URETER from the URINARY BLADDER which has become infected (CYSTITIS). Fevers, chills and backache are the usual presenting symptoms. ANTIBIOTICS should be given, and in severe cases the intravenous route may be necessary. SEPTICAEMIA is an occasional complication.

Chronic pyelonephritis may start in childhood, and the usual cause is back ?ow of urine from the bladder into one of the ureters – perhaps because of a congenital deformity of the valve where the ureter drains into the bladder. Constant urine re?ux results in recurrent infection of the kidney and damage to its tissue. Full investigation of the urinary tract is essential and, if an abnormality is detected, surgery may well be required to remedy it. HYPERTENSION and renal failure may be serious complications of pyelonephritis (see also KIDNEYS, DISEASES OF).... pyelonephritis

See INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAM (UROGRAM).... pyelogram

A procedure for getting X-ray pictures of the URINARY TRACT. A radio-opaque medium is injected into a vein and, when it is excreted by the kidneys, the substance can be identi?ed on X-rays. Any abnormalities in structure or foreign bodies such as calculi are outlined by the dye (see KIDNEYS, DISEASES OF).... intravenous pyelogram (urogram)

(IVP) see pyelography.... intravenous pyelography

n. inflammation of the renal pelvis and urinary bladder (see pyelitis; cystitis).... pyelocystitis

n. an operation to relieve obstruction at the junction of the pelvis of the kidney and the ureter. The procedure is often performed laparoscopically. The narrowed segment may be excised and the renal pelvis and ureteric ends anastomosed or a flap of tissue from the renal pelvis may be folded down to widen the narrowing. A ureteric stent is left in place while healing takes place. See hydronephrosis; Dietl’s crisis.... pyeloplasty

n. surgical incision into the pelvis of the kidney. This operation is usually undertaken to remove a stone (see pyelolithotomy) but is also necessary when surgical drainage of the kidney is required by a catheter or tube.... pyelotomy