REE 119S Lecture Notes - Lecture 75: Orthostatic Hypotension, Terazosin, Hematuria
Document Summary
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (bph), a noncancerous enlargement or hypertrophy of the prostate, is one of the most common diseases in aging men. Ultimately, chronic urinary retention and large residual volumes can lead to azotemia (accumulation of waste products) and kidney failure. Generalized symptoms may also be noted, including fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and pelvic discomfort. Other disorders that produce similar symptoms include urethral stricture, prostate cancer, neurogenic bladder, and urinary bladder stones. If a patient is admitted on an emergency basis because he is unable to void, he is immediately catheterized. The ordinary catheter may be too soft and pliable to advance through the urethra into the bladder. In such cases, a thin wire is introduced into the catheter to prevent the catheter from collapsing when it encounters resistance. A metal catheter with a pronounced prostatic curve may be used if obstruction is severe. A cystostomy (incision into the bladder) may be needed to provide urinary drainage.