Treatment
The goal of treatment is to get rid of the blockage. You may need to stay in a hospital for a short while.
Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics to treat urinary tract infection
- Catheterization– the placement of a tube into the body to drain urine (See: urinary catheters)
- Dialysis if kidney failure occurs
- Laser or heat therapy to shrink the prostate if the problem is due to an enlarged prostate
- Surgery such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)
- Other types of surgery for disorders causing blockage of the urethra or bladder neck
Prognosis (Expectations)
Bilateral obstructive uropathy may be reversible if the blockage is corrected before kidney failure develops.
Chronic kidney failure leads to long-term kidney damage that can be life threatening.
Patients with a chronic blockage are at a higher risk for complications due to catheter use. Long-term catheter use (such as with a Foley catheter) may make the kidneys unable to concentrate urine. As a result, your body removes large amounts of urine that haven’t been properly processed. This is called post-obstructive diuresis. It can be a life-threatening condition. Close monitoring is required.
If the obstruction was caused by cancer, the ultimate outcome depends on the disease severity and your response to treatment.
Complications
- Chronic kidney failure
- Complications due to long-term catheter use
- Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
- Long-term incontinence or urinary retention
- Formation of ureter or kidney stones
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Call your health care provider if decreased urine output or other symptoms of chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy develop.
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Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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Chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy : Treatment
Review Date : 1/10/2010
Reviewed By : David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and Louis S. Liou, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology, Department of Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine.
