Underactive urinary bladder – Masquerading as abdominal ascites

Abstract

An impaired ability to evacuate the urinary bladder is commonly seen in both men and women with aging. Usually, patients present with a range of storage, voiding, and post-micturition urinary symptoms. It may eventually lead to urinary retention. These symptoms may have a considerable effect on the patient’s quality of life. Despite its common prevalence with advancing age, the etiopathogenesis of the underactive urinary bladder is incompletely understood. There are no widely agreed diagnostic criteria. The urodynamic study (UDS), an invasive investigation is the only accepted modality to diagnose underactive detrusor. There is a lack of effective treatments to improve bladder emptying. The goals of treatment are to improve symptoms and reduce the risk for the complications of impaired bladder emptying. We report a case of a 73 year male who came to us with a history of urinary symptoms and a distended abdomen.