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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

    Vesicoureteral reflux

    Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the medical term for urine flowing back (reflux) from the bladder (vesico) to the kidneys via the ureters (ureteral). VUR occurs when the pressure in the bladder is high and there is something stopping the urine from flowing out through the urethra. This may be due to a blockage in a catheter but could be because the sphincters are too tight.

    Normally there is a valve between the bladder and the ureters that stops the urine flowing back up to the kidneys. If there is too much pressure these valves can fail.

    Signs and symptoms of a VUR

    You may get flank pain, recurrent pyelonephritis (kidney infections) or have abnormal kidney function on blood tests. Very rarely, VUR can present with kidney failure in a patient who has not managed their bladder very well.

    Management options

    VUR can usually be detected easily by an ultrasound scan of the kidneys. If VUR is present, the scan will show hydronephrosis or kidney swelling. Occasionally some patients who have not seen their doctor in a while may develop VUR if their bladder management is not adequate.

    Bleeding
    Hydronephrosis

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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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