Is Urinary Dysfunction a Medical Emergency?

A patient who is aware that their experience of urinating is changing may indeed require emergency attention at hospital.

Urinary symptoms and cauda equina syndrome

Alteration of urinary experience can be a red flag symptom of cauda equina syndrome and, if associated with other symptoms, may mean that the patient requires an emergency MRI scan and, possibly, emergency surgery.

The urinary symptoms which should alert a patient or medical practitioner to this need are as follows:

• A poor flow of urine (which is different to the patient’s normal experience)
• Having to strain to urinate
• Having difficulty emptying the bladder
• Losing awareness that the bladder is becoming full

If a patient is experiencing these symptoms alongside pain and tingling in one or both legs and possible tingling sensation in the saddle area or loss of sensation around the anus, the individual may be developing cauda equina syndrome. If this is the case, and an MRI scan could confirm that diagnosis, it may be that the patient is at the best moment for decompression surgery to take place. If the patient still retains some urinary sensation when they undergo surgery, it is thought that they are most likely to recover function.

Misdiagnosis of urinary symptoms

It is, of course, possible that the patient’s symptoms have a different cause. However, this situation is a medical emergency because, if the symptoms are caused by compression of the cauda equina nerves and are missed or misdiagnosed at this stage, the patient’s condition could deteriorate and their chance of a good recovery could be lost.

Timing is crucial in the treatment of cauda equina syndrome and a complete loss of urinary sensation and function prior to surgery may well leave the patient with the following life-long effects:

• Wind incontinence
• Faecal incontinence
• Bladder dysfunction
• Sexual dysfunction
• Mobility problems

Medical negligence

Where a patient’s early symptoms of cauda equina syndrome are misdiagnosed by a medical professional and the patient subsequently develops complete cauda equina syndrome with the associated deterioration in outcome, the medical practitioner at fault may be considered to have provided a substandard level of care.

If you or a loved one are suffering the appalling long-term effects of cauda equina syndrome due to a delay in diagnosis, it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.

Contact us to discuss your experience with a medical negligence solicitor who specialises in cauda equina syndrome cases.

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

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