Misdiagnosis of a Bladder Obstruction

Early diagnosis of a bladder obstruction can often lead to simple and effective treatments; however, if diagnosis is delayed, permanent damage can result to the bladder or kidneys.

Among the many cases of medical malpractice reported every year, a good number are related to failure to diagnose bladder obstruction, causing serious problems. It is important for a doctor to perform correct diagnostic tests and identify the signs and symptoms of bladder obstruction. If not diagnosed properly, bladder obstruction can lead to serious medical conditions including infections and prostate cancer.

Common Causes of Bladder Obstruction

Our St. Louis medical malpractice attorney explains that bladder obstruction is any condition that blocks the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra, the tube that directs urine out of the body. The most common causes of bladder obstruction are:

• Enlarged prostate.
• Prostate cancer.
• Narrowing of the urethra due to infection or surgery.
• Bladder stones.
• Scar tissue between the urethra and the opening of bladder.
• Medications for treating overactive bladder.

Common Symptoms of Bladder Obstruction

Some common symptoms of bladder obstruction are as follows:

• Inability to urinate.
• Weak stream of urine.
• Straining to urinate.
• Dribbling after urination.
• Feeling that bladder is still full after urinating.
• Frequent urge to urinate.
• Intermittent flow of urine.

Treatment of Bladder Obstruction

Treatment of bladder obstruction depends on how serious the obstruction is and what is the underlying cause. To clear the bladder obstruction and restore the proper flow of urine, the patient might have to undergo a laparoscopic, cystoscopy, or endoscopy surgery. There are other medical procedures available as well for clearing the obstructions.

One such procedure involves inserting a catheter in the urethra via the bladder. This procedure can be extremely painful as it involves inserting two hollow tubes: one through the back to drain the kidneys and the other to keep the urethra open. Besides surgical and invasive procedures, smaller obstructions can be treated with medications as well.

Delayed Treatment of Bladder Obstruction

According to medical experts, bladder obstruction is a very serious condition and can lead to serious complications if left untreated for a long period of time. Some complications that can arise out of delayed treatment of bladder obstruction are:

• Bladder infection.
• Bladder stones.
• Damage to the kidneys.
• Damage to bladder muscles.

Failure to diagnose bladder obstruction in time can leave some other underlying conditions untreated. For example, if the urinary obstruction is caused by prostate cancer, then misdiagnosis of the obstruction can leave the cancer untreated. This can lead to life threatening consequences for the patient.