Surgical treatment of urinary bladder polyps in Kharkiv

Bladder polyps are benign neoplasms formed on the mucous membrane inside the organ. They appear due to the excessive proliferation of tissues (epithelium) of the mucous membrane of the bladder. Polyps appear as rounded, reddish tumors. They can be both single and multiple. Some polyps grow directly in the bladder mucous membrane, while others are attached to it with a stem.

The size of benign epithelial tumors in the bladder varies from a few millimeters to several centimeters. While polyps are small, they usually do not manifest themselves in any way. Symptoms of the disease appear later, when the normal flow of urine is disrupted due to the growth of the tumor. A large polyp in the bladder located at the ureteral orifice or at the entrance to the urethra can cause urinary retention.

Bladder polyps are diagnosed much more often in men than in women. The average age of patients is 58-60 years, although tumors can occur in young people. Despite the fact that polyps are benign in nature, there is a risk of their degeneration into bladder cancer, so surgical removal of tumors remains the best treatment.

Causes of polyps in bladder

The exact cause of the formation of polyps in bladder is still unknown, but there are a number of factors that trigger the formation of tumors:

• infectious diseases of the genitourinary system (ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis and others). Chronic cystitis can also provoke the growth of polyps due to irritation and inflammation of bladder mucosa;
• stones in the bladder, injuring the mucous membrane;
• long-term or frequent use of a urinary catheter;
•  human papillomavirus;
• smoking - chemicals from tobacco smoke enter the bloodstream and are then filtered by the kidneys and into the bladder along with urine;
• exposure to other toxic chemicals, radiation;
• chemotherapy;
•  age. Tumors in bladder are diagnosed mainly in patients after 55 years of age;
• hereditary predisposition. Certain inherited gene mutations increase the risk of developing bladder polyps.

Some of these risk factors for bladder tumors can be eliminated, but others, such as age and heredity, cannot be influenced. Therefore, it is important to undergo regular examination by urologist in order to identify the problem in time and begin treatment. The following symptoms indicate the development of a benign tumor of the bladder:

• changing the direction of the stream or splashing urine;
• pain during urination;
• hematuria - an admixture of blood in the urine (polyps can bleed);
• involuntary or difficult urine flow (dysuria). 

Diagnostics of the bladder polyp

Diagnostics of bladder polyps is complicated by the fact that at the initial stage they do not manifest themselves in any way, so the person does not suspect about the disease and does not go to the doctor. Symptoms of polyps appear as they grow and resemble those of other diseases of the bladder, such as cystitis. Therefore, for the diagnosis of bladder polyps, a complex of laboratory and instrumental studies is prescribed:

• urine tests (to detect hematuria and bacteria that cause inflammation);
• ultrasound of pelvic organs;
• cystoscopy - the most informative method for examining the mucous membrane of bladder. During the procedure, a thin long probe equipped with a miniature video camera and a light (cystoscope) is inserted into the bladder through the urethra. The camera image is displayed on the monitor. The doctor examines the bladder walls and, if necessary, takes a sample of polyp tissue for examination to determine if it is malignant (biopsy).

Surgical treatment of bladder polyps

The most effective treatment for bladder polyps is surgery for their removal. Benign tumors pose a potential health risk to the patient as they can develop into bladder cancer.

Removal of bladder polyps is performed by the method of transurethral resection (TUR). This is a minimally invasive endoscopic operation performed in much the same way as cystoscopy. The patient must not eat or drink two hours before TUR. After intravenous sedation or topical application of an anesthetic gel, a cystoscope is inserted into the urethra. The doctor examines the bladder walls and cuts off the polyps with a loop heated to high temperatures using high-frequency current. At the same time, the blood vessels in the wound are “sealed”, which eliminates the risk of bleeding and infection.

Removal of polyps by transurethral resection lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. After the operation, the patient is transferred to the ward, where he is under the supervision of the medical staff (from several hours to a day).

Make an appointment with urologist regarding the surgical treatment of bladder polyps at the medical center “ON Clinic Kharkiv”. Leave a request on the website or call the specified phone number.