Astra Tech - Retention

This means that there is some sort of resistance in the urethra (the tube leading from the bladder to the outside of the body). Flow obstructions can be caused by damage to the urethra or a ‘urethral stricture’ (build up of scar tissue), meaning that the urethra has become too narrow.

Some neurological disorders can mean that the brain and the bladder can’t communicate. Normally the brain tells the bladder muscle to contract and the sphincter muscle to relax so that the bladder can be emptied. Instead, they sometimes both contract at the same time instead, so the bladder doesn’t empty.

Weak Bladder
The bladder muscle does not always have enough strength to completely empty the bladder. This can be due to damage to the nerves that control the bladder muscle.

A long term effect of problems emptying the bladder is that the bladder muscle thickens, this leads to the bladder not having enough strength to contract properly. A bladder weakened in this way can be the result of problems passing urine after narcosis (drug-related unconsciousness) or after certain types of anaesthetic.

Symptoms of Retention
The most common symptoms of urine retention are a weak flow of urine and that the bladder still contains some urine after going to the toilet normally. Urine leakage or frequently need to urinate may also be experienced.

If a problem with emptying the bladder happens suddenly, happens all the time or pain is experienced, consult a doctor straight away. Otherwise an infection may occur or the urine may be pressed back up to the kidneys which can lead to very harmful kidney damage.

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