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Bladder Surgery Side Effects

Every surgery carries with it the risks of side effects and complications. This is true of bladder surgery, which can take many forms depending on its purpose. Because the urinary system is so delicate and changes to it can effect her options about having children in the future, a patient should thoroughly discuss all potential side effects of bladder surgery with her doctor before undergoing the procedure.

  1. The Facts

    • Bladder surgery is an invasive procedure. It can be performed to treat urinary incontinence issues or remove cancerous growths. A surgeon can implant a sling to support the bladder, augment the size of bladder of that is too small and even remove the bladder entirely. The different forms of bladder surgery have potential side effects in common, including adverse reactions to surgery and problems with urinary function.

    Surgical Risks

    • Depending on the form of bladder surgery performed, a doctor can make an incision through a patient's abdomen or through a female patient's vagina. The patient could have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia used during the procedure. This can lead to suppressed breathing rates and even coma or death. Another potential side effect is the risk of uncontrolled bleeding during surgery or during the recovery period. After bladder surgery, a patient is also at risk for developing an infection. She could also develop blood clots in her legs.

    Urination Troubles

    • During the recovery period immediately after bladder surgery, a patient might not be able to urinate normally while the bladder heals. If this side effect occurs, he will need to use a catheter to relieve himself until his bladder begins to function normally. Alternatively, he could experience overactive bladder symptoms after his surgery. If he does, then he will experience sudden bladder contractions and uncontrolled urination.

    Bladder Damage

    • A potential complication of bladder surgery is that the bladder will be damaged during surgery. It could be perforated or torn. If this occurs, a patient will experience side effects like internal leakage of urine, infection and the development of stones within the urinary tract. The chance exists that she will be at an increased level of risk for developing bladder cancer in the future.

    Other

    • If a bladder surgery does not need to be performed immediately, a doctor might recommend that a woman delay having it done until after she is finished having children. Pregnancy and giving birth can both put a lot of stress on the bladder and muscles around it. There is a risk that after surgery, a woman who later gives birth will experience the side effect of having the surgery effectively undone by the stress put on her urinary system.

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