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