Overflow Incontinence

In this condition, patients never feel the urge to urinate, the bladder never empties, and small amounts of urine leak continuously. Overflow incontinence is prevalent in older men with an enlarged prostate and is rare in women.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms include the following:

Bladder never feels empty
Frequent nighttime urinate
Inability to void, even when the urge is felt
Urine dribbles, even after voiding
Causes

Conditions that may lead to overflow incontinence include the following:

Tumors.
Certain medications (anticholinergics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, sedatives, narcotics, alpha-adrenergic agonists, beta-adrenergic agonists, calcium channel blockers).
Benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Scar tissue.
Nerve damage. In such cases, nerves in the bladder are damaged so that the body can not feel when the bladder is full and the bladder does not contract. Such damage can be caused by spinal cord injuries, previous surgery in the colon or rectum, and pelvic fractures. Diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and shingles also can cause this problem.

Overflow incontinence is a common symptom of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The prostate is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. The upper portion of the urethra passes through the prostate, so when the gland becomes enlarged it may obstruct the passage of urine through the urethra.

Neurogenic bladder associated with overflow incontinence is caused by the loss of sensation of bladder fullness due to damage or obstruction of sacral nerves (located in the five vertebrae above the sacrum). This may result from certain types of surgery on the spinal cord, sacral spinal tumors, or birth defects. It also may be a complication of various diseases such as diabetes mellitus and polio.

Tumors and urinary stones can block the urethra and cause overflow incontinence.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves identifying the type and severity of the disorder. Depending on the information gained from a standard medical history and physical examination, urologists may prescribe one or more diagnostic procedures to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an effective treatment plan.

 

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