Bladder Distension
How to Elicit
- Gently palpate from the umbilicus downward toward the pelvis, feeling for a full bladder.
Significance
- The bladder, not normally palpable, may only be palpated when it is grossly enlarged in the setting of urinary retention.
Causes of Urinary Retention
Obstructive
- Extrinsic compression - constipation, pelvic / ovarian tumour
- Prostatic - benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, prostatitis
- Urethral - stricture, calculus, clot, urethritis
Neurological
- Cauda equina - trauma, disc prolapse, tumour, abscess, infarct, myelitis, HSV, varicella, CMV
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Spina bifida
Other
- Medications - opioids, anticholinergics
- Psychogenic
- Idiopathic
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