- At level of ureters usually unilateral--> stone, cancer
- Bilateral typically at level of bladder--> severe BPH, neurogenic bladder, bladder neck stricture, clot retention
- Rarely bilateral obstruction from processes involving both ureters--> retroperitoneal fibrosis, sigmoid cancer
- Can be acute w/pain if obstruction happened suddenly - and unable to void
- Often more subtle if slowly progressive, as w/BPH (e.g. frequency, urgency, nocturia, decreased force of stream)
- Fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath
- Sometime palpable bladder
- Peripheral edema, pulmonary edema if advanced
- Obstruction typically identified/confirmed by imaging - most commonly ultrasound or CT