Urinary Retention in Surgical Patients

Urszula Kowalik; Mark K Plante

doi:10.1016/j.suc.2016.02.004

Urinary Retention in Surgical Patients

Surg Clin North Am. 2016 Jun;96(3):453-67. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2016.02.004.

Authors

Urszula Kowalik¹, Mark K Plante²

Affiliations

¹ University of Vermont Medical Center, 111 Colchester Avenue, Mailstop 222WP2, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
² Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Vermont Medical Center, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 111 Colchester Avenue, Mailstop 320FL4, Burlington, VT 05401, USA. Electronic address: mark.plante@med.uvm.edu.

PMID: 27261788
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2016.02.004

Abstract

Urinary retention is an important and potentially avoidable postoperative complication. Identifying risk factors for retention is important given expedient bladder decompression is important for long-term outcomes. Age, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and lower urinary tract symptoms are patient factors that predispose to retention. Surgery-related factors include operative time, intravenous fluid administration, type of anesthesia, and procedure type. The mainstay for treatment in the acute setting is Foley catheter placement. Starting alpha-blockers in men is also indicated as they increase voiding trial success. Long-term solutions for chronic retention include a variety of surgeries, with transurethral prostatectomy as the gold standard.

Keywords: Bladder function; Postoperative; Surgery; Urinary retention.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Humans
Risk Factors
Surgical Procedures, Operative / adverse effects*
Urinary Retention / diagnosis*
Urinary Retention / etiology
Urinary Retention / prevention & control
Urinary Retention / therapy*