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My bladder, my life

Bladder management

  • Bladder types
  • Starting with catheters
  • Problems
  • Life hacks
  • Inside the bladder
  • Equipment
Problems
  • Working out what's wrong
    • I normally perform intermittent catheters and have recently started leaking in between
    • I have a suprapubic catheter and have recently started leaking out my penis or urethra
    • I’ve had lots of UTIs lately and they seem to keep coming back after I finish my antibiotics
    • I’m having trouble passing my catheter
  • Other problems
    • Watching your fluids
    • How to avoid a urinary tract infection (UTI)
    • Autonomic dysreflexia
    • Bladder and kidney stones
    • Prostatitis
    • Leaking
    • Bleeding
    • Vesicoureteral reflux
    • Hydronephrosis
    • Stricture
    • False passage
    • Catheter blockages
    • Bladder washout

    Hydronephrosis

    Hydronephrosis is a swelling in the kidneys caused by urine becoming trapped. It’s usually caused by a blockage in the urinary tract or something disrupting the normal urine flow.

    A blockage or problem in the urinary tract means urine is unable to drain from the kidneys, or flows the wrong way up back into the kidneys. This can lead to a build-up of urine in the kidneys, causing them to become stretched and swollen.

    Signs and symptoms

    Patients with hydronephrosis may have no physical symptoms. It may cause flank pain below your ribs and above your pelvis.

    Hydronephrosis increases the risk of recurrent UTIs and may result in kidney scarring and loss of function that can lead to kidney failure.   It may be a sign of vesicoureteral reflex (VUR), especially if it is in both kidneys. However, there are several other possible diagnoses such as kidney stone, scar or growth in the ureter that need to be ruled out.

    This condition is detected by radiological imaging such as ultrasound scan of the kidneys.

    Management options

    Improving bladder management to ensure low storage pressures is essential. It’s also important to minimise UTIs, and monitor kidney health. Speak to your urology nurse.

    Vesicoureteral reflux
    Stricture

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    Quick links

    • Bladder types
    • Starting with catheters
    • Problems
    • Life hacks
    • Inside the bladder
    • Equipment

    About this resource

    This web resource is part of a research project to improve bladder management at the Austin, by increasing the use of intermittent catheterisation.

    The research project is funded by TAC.

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    This research project is brought to you by

    Austin Health
    TAC
    ISCRR
    WorkSafe

    Contacts

    Austin Health
    03 9496 5000
    Victorian Spinal Cord Service
    03 9496 5220
    Spinal Urology Nurse
    03 9496 5904
    spinalurologynurse@austin.org.au
    VSCS outpatient Nurse
    03 9496 5176
    vscsoutpatients@austin.org.au

    Disclaimer

    This information has been developed for Austin Health use and has been specifically designed for Austin Health. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. Austin Health accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed on this website. Written information should only be used in conjunction with advice from the health professional who is looking after you.

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