Bladder outlet obstruction may not lead to hydronephrosis in some patients: Study

Hyderabad, India: Isolated bladder outlet obstruction in adult men with refractory non‐neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms is not associated with hydronephrosis, suggests a recent study in the journal Neurourology and Urodynamics.

Bladder outlet obstruction is thought to cause hydronephrosis. Hydronephrosis is a classical indication for prostate surgery in patients with benign prostatic enlargement and considered a key factor by urologists. Some patients with bladder outlet obstruction may develop hydronephrosis but the relative importance ofassociated lower tract dysfunction such as abnormalities in bladder storage or detrusor contractility is not certain.

There is a lack of good evidence to either support or refute the contention that isolated bladder outlet obstruction in absence of of any other associated lower urinary tract ab-normality results in hydronephrosis. Evidence regarding this could help in understanding of fundamental biology and have significant implications for urological practice. Considering this, Sanjay Sinha and Lavina Matai from Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, India, examined whether isolated bladder outlet obstruction in the absence of associated lower urinary tract abnormality results in hydronephrosis. Isolated obstruction causes a brief rise in bladder pressure that might not trigger hydronephrosis.