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Bladder outlet obstruction - Symptom

Alternative Names

BOO; Lower urinary tract obstruction; Prostatism

Symptoms:

The symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction may vary, but can include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Continuous feeling of a full bladder
  • Delayed onset of urination (urinary hesitancy)
  • Frequent urination
  • Inability to urinate (acute urinary retention)
  • Pain on urination (dysuria)
  • Slow urine flow
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Urine stream starts and stops (urinary intermittency)

Signs and tests:

If bladder outlet obstruction is suspected, your health care provider will take a thorough history of your problems. During a physical exam, your provider may find one or more of the following possible causes:

  • Abdominal mass
  • Cystocele (women)
  • Distended bladder
  • Enlarged prostate (men)

Tests may include:

  • Blood chemistries to reveal kidney damage
  • Cystoscopy and retrograde urethrogram (x-ray to look for urethral narrowing)
  • Ultrasound to locate the blockage of urine, and find out how well the bladder empties
  • Urinalysis to look for blood or infection
  • Urine culture to show an infection
  • Uroflowmetry to determine how fast the urine flows out
  • Urodynamic testing to see how much the urine flow is blocked and how well the bladder contracts
  • Reviewed last on: 5/22/2008
  • Scott M. Gilbert, MD, Department of Urology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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