Presenting with a dull, continuous ache in her right flank, a primigravid patient at weeks gestation is evaluated in the obstetric triage unit. She first noticed the discomfort yesterday. There is no radiation of the pain to the groin, and she has not experienced any fever, chills, urinary frequency, or dysuria. Her temperature is (), blood pressure is mm Hg, and pulse is /min. Physical examination shows a gravid uterus consistent with gestational age and trace tenderness over the right costovertebral angle. Laboratory results are as follows:
Hemoglobin: g/dL
Leukocyte count:
Blood urea nitrogen: mg/dL
Serum creatinine: mg/dL
Urinalysis is negative for blood, nitrites, and leukocyte esterase, showing - WBCs/hpf. A right upper quadrant and renal ultrasound reveals mild dilation of the right renal pelvis and proximal ureter, without visible echogenic foci or acoustic shadowing. The left kidney appears normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
- Observation and routine obstetric careCevap
- BPrescribe empiric oral cephalexin therapy
- COrder a non-contrast computed tomography scan of the abdomen
- DAdmit the patient for intravenous antibiotics and hydration
- ERefer to urology for cystoscopy and ureteral stent placement
Cevap
The patient's laboratory values are perfectly aligned with normal physiologic adaptations to pregnancy: her blood urea nitrogen and creatinine are mildly decreased due to a pregnancy-induced increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and her mild dilutional anemia and leukocytosis are normal. Because the urinalysis is negative and there are no signs of infection or obstructive stones on the ultrasound, no intervention is required.