A Spectrum of Non-Traumatic Urological Emergencies in a Single Center in Tunisia: Ten Years Experience.

Abstract

Background:Emergency department consultations are the most important in any hospital. Although nontraumatic urological emergencies are a common reason for hospitalization in a urological environment. The aim of our study was to present the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of non-traumatic urological emergencies in our hospital for 10 years.Methods:This was a retrospective study of records of patients who presented with non-traumatic Urological emergencies to our institution, over a 10-year period (from January 2010 – December 2019). This study was done in the Department of Urology in the hospital of the Internal Security Forces La Marsa. The data extracted included; the demographic information, diagnosis, and the treatment offered. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Data were displayed using mean +/− standard deviation and percentages.Results:We registered 531 patients. The average age of our patients was 48.2 years (18 to 94 years). The sex ratio (M / F) was 2/1. These patients were over or equal to 50 years in 45.7% of cases. The most frequent conditions were acute urine retention (43%) and urogenital infections which together accounted for 18.4% of cases. The two other diagnoses the most retained were: obstructive lithiasis pyelonephritis in 11.9% (64 patients) including 12 cases of emphysematous pyelonephritis, hyperalgesia renal colic in 5.9% of cases. Testicular torsion constituted the third commonest urological emergency seen, accounting for 3,36% (n = 18) of the cases. Gangrene of the external genitalia accounted for 1.9% of urologic emergencies, and priapism 1.3%. 138 patients were hospitalized in the urology unit for treatmentConclusion:The most common nontraumatic urological emergency was urine retention in the elderly. To our knowledge, this study is the first to detail the activity of non-traumatic urological emergencies in Tunisia, and it will certainly be the starting point for the establishment of a structure dedicated entirely to urological activity.