Bladder paralysis

Description

Neurogenic bladder ili bladder paralysis. Nerve damage that prevents transmitting of the messages from the bladder to the brain. For the bladder to work properly, the muscles and nerves should work together and to keep the urine in the bladder and release it regularly. Nerves take messages from the bladder to the brain and then the brain registers that the bladder is full. In neurogenic bladder nerves that should take these messages are “broken”. Causes may be nerve diseases such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, trauma of the brain or spinal cord, as well as certain infections.

Symptoms

Inability to voluntary empty the bladder, urine incontinence, frequent urinary tract infections.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done. Blood tests and imaging procedures should discover the cause. Before examination it should drink lot of fluid to full the bladder and then through examination to confirm whether it is emptying normally.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and analysis of urine.

Specialists

Neurosurgery, Urology

Therapy

When possible, treatment of the condition causing the disorder may help renew the bladder function. Other treatments include: medicines, temporary placing of urinary catheter, surgical placement of the catheter in the bladder (so called suprapubic catheter).