BLADDER OUTFLOW OBSTRUCTION

摘要

Bladder outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common problem in elderly men, and by the age of 80 years most men will have developed symptoms attributable to this disorder. The symptoms may be either obstructive or irritative in type. Less common causes of bladder outflow obstruction include bladder neck obstruction and urethral stricture. The aetiology of the irritative symptoms is poorly understood. Obstruction of the urethra by an enlarged prostate leads to a poor urinary flow. The bladder may take longer to generate a high enough pressure to start the flow of urine, and this pressure may not be sustained over the (prolonged) voiding cycle. This leads to hesitancy and intermittency. Other causes of irritative symptoms which merit attention are bladder cancer, urinary tract infection, urethral stricture, bladder diverticula, bladder calculus, and neuropathic bladder dysfunction.