complications

Last edited 12/2018 and last reviewed 07/2021

These include:

  • chronic retention - increased residual bladder volume
  • stagnant urine with increased susceptibility to infection
  • overflow incontinence - sign of high pressure chronic retention with possible backflow to kidneys and progressive renal failure; bladder becomes greatly distended and atonic
  • trabeculation of the bladder musculature - the muscle hypertrophies to overcome the outflow obstruction
  • bladder diverticulae - sacculations between the hypertrophied muscle continue to enlarge in prolonged obstruction
  • calculi - stones may form in the bladder and its diverticulae
  • bilateral hydronephrosis - increased intravesical pressure transmitted back into the ureters and kidneys
  • renal failure - progressive renal parenchmal damage from ureteric sphincter damage and urinary reflux