Urinary Tract Obstruction

Some problems could occur in the urinary tract, which might lead to ureteral obstruction and prevent the urine from passing normally. However, it’s a simple condition to manage before it causes any complications.

Urinary tract obstruction

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters (the tubes that the urine passes through from the kidneys to the bladder), and the bladder from which the urine goes out. In the case of a ureteral obstruction, a blockage occurs in one or both of the ureters and prevents the urine from passing through them to the bladder, and this obstruction could be partial or complete.

Urinary tract obstruction is a common condition, and it’s more prevalent in men older than 60 years old due to the enlargement of the prostate (a gland in men located under the bladder) with aging, whereas an enlarged prostate prevents the urine from going out of the bladder as a result of pushing up against the ureters.

Causes of urinary tract obstruction

• Congenital conditions in the ureters, such as a duplicated ureter (the two ureters go out of the same kidney), an obstruction where the ureter connects with the kidney or the bladder, ureterocele (it occurs when the ureter is too narrow that it doesn’t allow for the urine to flow completely, which leads to a tiny bulge to manifest that could cause an obstruction), and retroperitoneal fibrosis (a rare condition that occurs when a fibrous tissue grows behind the abdomen and presses on the ureter leading to its obstruction).
• Prostate enlargement, like benign prostatic hyperplasia.
• Kidney stones.
• Cancerous and noncancerous tumors.
• Blood clots.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Internal tissue growth like endometriosis in females.
• Uterine prolapse.
• Chronic ureter swelling due to conditions like tuberculosis.
• Some gastrointestinal issues, like Crohn’s disease and a swollen appendix.

Symptoms of urinary tract obstruction

• Pain in the abdomen, the sides below the ribs, and the lower back.
• Fever, nausea, and vomiting.
• Difficulty urinating and emptying the bladder.
• Frequent urinating.
• Frequent urinary tract infections.
• Cloudy or bloody urine.
• Hypertension.
• When the condition is unmanaged, ureteral obstruction could lead to irreversible kidney damage.

Diagnosis of urinary tract obstruction

• Blood and urine tests.
• Imaging tests.
• A bladder scan to observe its emptying.

Treatment of urinary tract obstruction

The treatment depends on the causative factor, and it includes medications or a surgical treatment (open surgery or endoscopically).