Infection After Bladder Removal

Recovery from bladder removal surgery can be greatly complicated by an infection related to the operation. This procedure is usually performed to try and stop the spread of bladder cancer throughout the organ. Bladder removal is a life-altering treatment than can carry many complications, the most common of which is infection.

• Recovery from bladder removal surgery can be complicated by post-operative infections.

Causes of Infection After Bladder Removal

• Infection can be caused after bladder removal for two main reasons. The surgical tools used in the operation could have been contaminated or there can be issues surrounding the redirection of urine flow. Further infection complications can ensue depending on whether the patient is male or female and what further procedures are undertaken to maintain urinary and sexual function.

Restoring Function After Bladder Removal

• Newer treatments for bladder removal often preclude the need for an ostomy (the creation of an alternative opening for urinary elimination) and the use of an external bag for collecting urine. A neobladder can be created by attaching a section of the colon to the urethra for urine collection. This organ can then be emptied at regular intervals utilizing a catheter. One of the primary side effects of this procedure, however, is the occurrence of regular urinary tract infections.

Urinary Tract Infection Overview

• Many patients of bladder removal surgery experience repeated urinary tract infections immediately after the surgery and for years afterward. The chemotherapy that most bladder cancer patients undergo in addition to surgery also has an immunosuppressive effect, increasing the chance of the patient contracting a secondary infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, women typically suffer from urinary tract infections following bladder removal surgery more often than men, but it will affect both genders significantly. The infection can spread throughout the urinary system, including the kidneys. Bladder removal surgery always involves some sort of redirection of the urinary tract, so persistent infections become more likely.

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

• The primary symptom of urinary tract infections is a constant urge to urinate regardless of whether it is actually necessary. This can be accompanied by blood in the urine, a burning sensation during elimination, frequent needs to urinate in small quantities and strong-smelling urine. The infection can be confirmed by testing a urine sample for bacteria.

Treatment of Infection

• Urinary tract infections are treated primarily with antibiotics, which usually clear the infection in under a week according to the Mayo Clinic. Recurring infections, like those caused by bladder removal surgery, can be treated by repeated courses of antibiotics. Patients vulnerable to such infections can be given home urine tests that they can use to self-diagnose their infections and speed treatment.