Urine Obstruction
Urinary obstruction can be a presentation of benign or a serious condition. In either case, it has to be brought to medical attention as it may lead to kidney failure if left untreated.
Obstruction can occur anywhere in the urinary tract
Kidneys:
1-Ureter (the tube between the kidney and the bladder)
2-Bladder
3-Prostate (in men)
4-Urethra (the tube between the bladder and the outside)
Symptoms:-
1-Inability to pass urine (urinary retention)
2-Weak stream of urine
3-Interrupted stream
4-Blood in the urine
5-Pain in either flank (side) or in the back
6-Abdominal pain and/or swelling
Causes:-
1-Prostate enlargement (in men), which may be benign or malignant
2-Stones (can be in the kidneys, ureter, or bladder)
3-Tumor (can be anywhere in or outside the urinary tract, compressing it)
4-Infection
5-Blood clots
6-Enlarged uterus in pregnant women
7-Weak bladder that cannot push the urine out (due to certain medications or neurologic conditions)
8-Abnormal congenital structures
Common in children
9-Abnormal tissue that results from instrumentation of the urinary tract (also called strictures)
10-Foreign body
11-Trauma with pelvic fracture
Diagnosing urinary obstruction:-
1-Plain kidney x-rays
2-Kidney ultrasound
3-CAT scan
4-Intravenous pyelogram ( IVP)
5-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Treating urinary obstruction:-
Treatment of urinary obstruction depends on the cause. Passing a catheter in the bladder may be all that is needed to relieve the obstruction (a catheter is a soft tube that is inserted into the urethra). Medication can sometimes help if the obstruction is due to an infection, or sometimes in the case of an enlarged prostate.
