Dr. Shafiq Ahmed

Urology Specialist

Dr. Shafiq Ahmed

Urology Specialist

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Contact Information

Pusa Rd, Radha Soami Satsang,
Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi,
Delhi – 110005

+91 92052 66954 drshafiqahmed@gmail.com
Urology Care

Obstructive Uropathies Treatment in Delhi & Gurgaon

Understanding Urinary Blockages, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Anorgasmia Illustration

obstructive uropathies

What Is Obstructive Uropathy?

Obstructive uropathy is a blockage in your urinary system. To obstruct means to block or impede, and uropathy means a disease or condition that affects your urinary organs.

Obstructive uropathy can make it difficult for pee to leave your body through your urethra. As a result, the pee may flow the wrong way back up to your kidneys and cause kidney damage. It affects about 2 out of every 1,000 people. It's responsible for about 10% of all cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Another name for obstructive uropathy is urinary blockage.

What are the types of obstructive uropathy?

Acute vs Chronic

Acute: Starts suddenly
Chronic: Develops slowly and lasts a long time

Unilateral vs Bilateral

Unilateral: Affects one kidney
Bilateral: Affects both kidneys

Partial vs Complete

Partial: Blockage only affects part of your urinary system. Your stream may slow or stop in the middle of peeing.
Complete: Fully blocks your urinary system. This means you can't pee at all.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of obstructive uropathy?

Obstructive uropathy symptoms affect your peeing habits:

Urinary Symptoms:

  • Inability to completely empty your bladder
  • A sudden, uncontrollable urge to pee
  • Leaking pee (urinary incontinence)
  • Difficulty starting to pee or slow urine flow
  • Peeing less than usual
  • Blood in your pee (hematuria)

Other Common Symptoms:

Fever
Nausea and vomiting
Flank pain on one or both sides

What are the main causes of obstructive uropathy?

Kidney stones
Enlarged prostate (BPH)
Scarring in your urethra
Scarring in your ureters
Nerve damage affecting bladder muscles

Cancer-related causes:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Colon cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Ureteral cancer
  • Uterine cancer

What are the complications of obstructive uropathy?

Without treatment, pee can build up in your kidneys and cause them to swell (hydronephrosis). Over time, hydronephrosis can cause your kidneys to stop working on their own (kidney failure).

Diagnosis and Tests

How is obstructive uropathy diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and perform a physical exam. If they suspect you have obstructive uropathy, they'll order tests to help confirm a diagnosis.

Urodynamic Tests

Measure pee volume, stream strength/speed, and bladder pressure

Imaging Tests

CT scan, MRI, or X-ray to visualize urinary system

Cystoscopy

Using cystoscope to examine urethra and bladder

Voiding Cystourethrogram

Imaging test of bladder filling and emptying

Renal Scan

Nuclear medicine test showing kidney blood flow

Management and Treatment

How do you treat obstructive uropathy?

It depends on the exact cause of obstructive uropathy. A healthcare provider will immediately drain your bladder if you have complete obstructive uropathy and are in a lot of pain.

Immediate Drainage Devices:

Foley catheter:Thin, flexible tube inserted through urethra into bladder
Nephrostomy tubes:Small catheters inserted directly into kidney through back

Treatments for Scarring:

Ureteral stents:Thin tubes that hold ureters open
Urethral dilation:Gradually widening urethra with rods or balloon

Key Takeaways

Symptoms & Diagnosis
  • • Affects 2 in 1,000 people, causes 10% of CKD cases
  • • Symptoms include difficulty urinating, flank pain
  • • Can be acute or chronic, partial or complete
  • • Diagnosed with imaging, urodynamic tests, cystoscopy
Causes & Treatment
  • • Common causes: kidney stones, enlarged prostate
  • • Can lead to kidney failure if untreated
  • • Immediate treatment includes catheter drainage
  • • Long-term solutions: stents, dilation procedures