Any of the following is acted on immediately. Surgical and life-threatening emergencies are escalated to EMS or urgent surgical care first; provider notification and orders follow.
Red flags — act immediately
Acute severe testicular pain, often with swelling and a high-riding testis → testicular torsion — activate EMS / urgent surgical evaluation; the testis is salvageable only within hours.
Perineal or scrotal pain out of proportion with discoloration, crepitus, and systemic toxicity → Fournier’s gangrene — activate EMS (cross-reference External Genitalia).
An irreducible, tender inguinal hernia with nausea or vomiting → incarceration or strangulation — activate EMS; do not force reduction.
Acute urinary retention — an inability to void with a distended, painful bladder → arrange urgent decompression / catheterization per order and notify (bladder management in Urinary/Renal).
A post-operative urologic hemorrhage or a significant infection → notify urgently; escalate to EMS for significant bleeding.
A new firm or painless testicular mass → evaluate for malignancy; notify.
