Neurogenic bladder Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction

The term neurogenic bladder or, more correctly, neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (according to the International Continence Society), refers to a difficult or abnormal function of the bladder and urethra (and/or prostate, in men), in the context of neurological disease, diagnosed and clinically relevant.

Therefore, the term neurogenic bladder means that there is an abnormal functioning of the urinary tract in a neurological patient.

This may manifest as symptoms related to the bladder storage function (such as increased urinary frequency, nocturia, urinary urgency, overactive bladder - with or without urge urinary incontinence) or the bladder voiding function (urinary ddribbling, weak urinary stream, feeling of incomplete voiding).

In neurological patients, both types of symptoms often coexist: for example, there may exist loss of urine on some occasions, while on others difficulty in voiding.

Neurourology is an area of differentiation dedicated to the urological study of patients with neurological disease or in whom, without a previous diagnosis, there may be suspicion of a neurological cause for the symptoms; neurological patients are generally indicated for a complete urodynamic study for functional characterization.

In addition to the impact on quality of life due to symptoms, patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction may have recurrent urinary infections and even dilation of the upper urinary tract (ureter/kidney) which can ultimately result in loss of kidney function.