Let's learn about urethral obstruction and its treatment (Urethral Dilation)

Are you also having trouble urinating as fast as you used to? Is your urine stream weak? Maybe it's dribbling with a little pain? If you're having this kind of discomfort, the cause could be a blockage in your urethra . In medicine, we call this (urethral stricture) . Don't be scared when you hear this name, this is a condition that affects many people. So today we are going to talk about a simple and effective treatment for this.

Simply put, what is Urethral Dilation?

Urethral Dilation is a treatment for widening the urethra . The urethra is the tube through which urine comes out of your body. Just as when dirt gets stuck in a water pipe, the flow of water decreases, when scar tissue forms inside our urethra for some reason and becomes blocked, the flow of urine also decreases and becomes difficult. This is called urethral stricture . So this simple treatment called urethral dilation gently widens the blocked area again.

Why does the urinary tract get blocked like this?

There may be several reasons for this.

• Infections: Due to certain infections in the urinary tract.
• Inflammation: Inflammation of the urinary tract due to some reason.
• Trauma : After an accident or surgery to that area.
• Without a reason: Sometimes this condition can occur even if no clear cause can be found.

How is this treatment done?

In this, your doctor, a urologist , uses a long, thin instrument (called a sounding instrument in medical terms) that gradually gets thicker and thicker to slowly widen the blocked urethra. Another method is to insert something like a small balloon and gradually inflate it to widen the blocked area.

There is another similar procedure called a urethrotomy . In this procedure, a tube about the size of a pencil with a camera at the end (cystoscope) is passed down the urethra to see exactly what is going on. This instrument uses a small knife (scalpel) to cut the urethra.They cut and remove the trapped scar tissue and make the road better.

But there is one thing. If you do this once and get a blockage again, there is a high chance that it will happen again even if you do it again. In that case, your doctor may recommend a slightly more serious surgery (urethroplasty) . Your doctor will explain this to you in detail.

How should you prepare for this?

Before this treatment, you will need to see a doctor. There, your general health, blood pressure, and pulse will be checked.

• Tests: A cystoscopy or other imaging tests may be done to see exactly how blocked the urethra is.
• Urinalysis : A urinalysis will be done to check for bacteria . If there is a bacterial infection, you will need to take antibiotics before this treatment.
• Medication Awareness: This is very important. You should definitely tell your doctor about any medication you are taking, including medications for diabetes, blood pressure, over-the-counter painkillers , vitamins, and even Ayurvedic medicines. Some medications, like aspirin, increase the risk of bleeding.
• Food and Drink: If you are being anesthetized (put to sleep) for this procedure, you will usually be asked not to eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours before the procedure. If you have any daily medications, ask your doctor if you can take them with a sip of water.

What happens during and after treatment?

First of all, this is not a major surgery. In most cases, you can go home the same day after the treatment (outpatient procedure) .

This is usually done while you are anesthetized (put to sleep). So you won't feel any pain. Sometimes, if it's done while you're awake, a numbing lubricant is applied to the urethra to help you feel less pain.

After the blockage is dilated, the doctor can insert a camera-equipped tube (cystoscope) into the bladder to check for other problems. The entire procedure takes less than an hour.

After treatment, a small tube (urinary catheter) will be used to help urine drain easily until the urethra heals.It will stay in place. Don't worry about this. This tube can be removed in a few days. After that, you will be able to urinate easily.

How effective is this treatment?

Urethral Dilation treatment is very successful in the short term. It has a success rate of about 60% for blockages less than 2 centimeters. The biggest benefit is that the symptoms of urinary blockage disappear and you can urinate easily and without pain.

However, this may not be a permanent solution for everyone. Over time, the urethra may become blocked again. Then you may have to undergo this treatment again or another appropriate treatment. Your doctor will give you the best solution for this according to your situation. So, do not keep any questions in mind and discuss everything with your doctor.