Differential Diagnosis for 3 weeks post ALIF, 56 y/o male with dysuria
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): This is the most likely diagnosis given the symptom of dysuria, which is a common presentation of UTIs, especially in patients who may have had urinary catheterization during or after surgery.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Prostatitis: Given the patient's age and sex, prostatitis is a possible cause of dysuria. It could be related to a bacterial infection, which might have been introduced during catheterization.
- Urethral stricture: Although less common, urethral stricture could be a cause of dysuria, especially if there was any trauma to the urethra during catheterization.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Sepsis: While less likely, sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition that could present with dysuria among other symptoms, especially in a post-surgical patient. It requires immediate attention.
- Spinal epidural abscess: Given the recent spinal surgery (ALIF - Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion), there is a risk, although small, of developing a spinal epidural abscess, which could present with a variety of symptoms including dysuria due to nerve compression.
- Rare diagnoses
- Interstitial cystitis: A condition that causes bladder pressure, bladder pain, and sometimes pelvic pain. The symptoms could include dysuria, but it's less likely in the context of recent surgery.
- Schistosomiasis (if traveled to endemic areas): This parasitic infection can cause dysuria among other symptoms, but it would be rare in a patient without recent travel history to endemic areas.