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Bladder dysfunction |
Bladder dysfunction is defined as an alteration in the ability of the urinary bladder to perform efficiently. The bladder should have the ability to relax in order to have a defined capacity to store urine. It also must have the functional ability to contract effectively to eliminate the urinary waste products.
There are many medical conditions when the bladder does not function properly. Irritability of the bladder may result in frequency of urination and inability to retain urine. Some neurologic conditions such as Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease may deliver inappropriate or exaggerated signals to the bladder. Patients with long-standing diabetes may develop a "sleepy" bladder and retain extraordinary large volumes of urine. Following radical urologic or colorectal surgery, the bladder may become dysfunctional either temporarily or permanently. Urodynamics helps to define the bladder dysfunction.
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a widely prevalent urologic condition with an estimated 17 million Americans affected. The symptoms are characterized by frequency, urgency and urgency incontinence. Most recently, several new oral medications and the first bi-weekly transdermal skin patch has been introduced to treat this disturbing and embarrassing condition.
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