Bladder wall

[Worried03]

What does it mean if your bladder wall is mildly thickened and trabeculation ?

[Norwich1 Moderator]

Trabeculation of the bladder occurs from repeated obstructions in the urethra. When an obstruction occurs, the muscles walls of the bladder have to work too hard to move urine past the blockage. This leads to a thickening of the muscle walls and a loss of elasticity. When the muscle walls of the bladder lose their tone, the bladder holds onto urine for longer than it should. In these instances, the urine may flow back towards the kidneys, which can lead to infection.

What are the symptoms?

Normally our bladders expand when filled with urine, and return to their original size when they are emptied of urine. Trabeculation of the bladder affects the amount of urine that your bladder can hold and the way that it’s emptied. A trabeculated bladder is no longer able to expand when filled with urine and contract when emptied. This cycle can lead to urinary incontinence, infection, and kidney damage.

How is it caused?

The leading cause of a trabeculated bladder is a chronic blocked urethra. There are many possible reasons that a urethra may become blocked. These include:

blood clots

kidney stones

tumors

diseases of the digestive tract

injuries to the pelvis, such as fracture

disorders of the nervous system

enlarged prostate (in men)

Hope this info helps.