Eastmed Radiology can help to investigate your Urinary Tract Problems

Difficulty passing urine is a common problem. It affects people of all ages, males and females, however, it is most common in older men with an enlarged prostate gland. Urinary hesitancy due to prostate enlargement or bladder dysfunction often develops slowly over time. Usually people do not notice it until they are unable to urinate. Urinary retention causes bladder overextension and may cause damage to the kidneys due to urine back pressure.

If you are having difficulty passing urine discuss it with your doctor as soon as possible.  As urinary retention affects both sexes there are many different causes for problems with urination, including neurogenic bladder, infection, prolapsed bladder, problems with a prostate, kidney/ bladder stones. The first line of investigation for those pathology is renal ultrasound scan. Eastmed Radiology, Auckland offers comprehensive assessment of the urinary tract, including kidneys, bladder and prostate in men and pelvic organs in women.

Blood and urine laboratory tests and sometimes an abdominal X-ray are also indicated for problems with urination, for instance to detect a stone. EastMed Radiology performs X-ray examinations on latest digital equipment with immediate image viewing capabilities. The radiation from the digital X-ray equipment is significantly lower than in conventional equipment. Ultrasound is an effective and affordable modality for renal/ bladder pathology investigation. It utilises high frequency sound waves to visualise the internal organs and soft tissues in the human body and does not involve ionising radiation, unlike the X-ray.

Renal ultrasound scan can detect kidney stones, cysts, tumours, congenital abnormalities of the renal tract, prostate and bladder problems, evidence of infection and consequences of renal tract trauma. At EastMed Radiology they often perform renal ultrasound scans to check for urinary retention due to neurogenic bladder. As the name suggests, it is a neurological condition associated with lack of bladder control. The problem may be in the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves. Diseases that can cause neurological damage include Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease or diabetes mellitus. Infection, trauma, surgery or toxic injury can also lead to neurogenic bladder. Congenital conditions, such as spina bifida, may also be associated with urinary retention.

It is important to note, that Acute Urinary Retention (AUR) is a medical emergency because it can be life threatening. Urgent medical attention at the hospital or emergency department is required without delay.

Some ultrasound procedures, including pelvis, kidneys and bladder examination require patient preparation. You need to have a full bladder for this scan. One hour before your appointment, empty your bladder and drink rapidly (within 5-10 min) 1 liter of water. Finish drinking 50-55 min before the scan to allow enough time for the bladder to fill. Do not empty your bladder again until after the scan. Please avoid heavy meals before the scan.

Eastmed Radiology provides quality medical diagnostic imaging and high standard patient care at a competitive price. For more information please go to http://eastmedradiology.co.nz .