What is contracture of the bladder neck?

What is contracture of the bladder neck?

Contracture of the bladder neck is a rare condition that can occur in men after prostate surgery. Various telescopic procedures are commonly performed for benign enlargement of the prostate, known as benign prostate hyperplasia. This condition may be treated with medication or by telescopic surgical removal of a portion of the prostate gland. Following such surgical procedures on the prostate, a bladder neck contracture or scar tissue can form at the junction of the bladder outlet and the prostate. The prostate gland is located between the bladder and the urethra, the tube through which urine leaves the body.

For individuals who have prostate cancer, one treatment option is the removal of the prostate. If the prostate gland is removed, the bladder neck, which had been connected to the prostate, is reconnected to the urethra. This connection is called an anastomosis. In rare cases following prostate surgery, fibrous connective tissue replaces the normal muscle tissue of the bladder neck. The scar tissue at the site of the anastomosis may cause the opening between the bladder and urethra to narrow or to close completely.

In very rare situations, a bladder neck contracture may lead to more serious problems, such as bladder or kidney damage.