National incidence and outcomes of postoperative urinary retention in the Surgical Care Improvement Project

Abstract

Background: The national incidence of postoperative urinary retention (POUR), its risk factors, and associated outcomes are not well understood.

Methods: We identified patients undergoing one of the Surgical Care Improvement Project surgeries using the National Inpatient Sample. By using International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification codes (ICD-9-CM), we identified POUR and the outcomes urinary tract infection, noninfectious catheter-related complications, length of stay, and posthospitalization care. Multivariable analysis identified predictors of POUR and its associated outcomes.

Results: A total of 415,409 patients, representing 2,077,045 nationally, underwent one of the Surgical Care Improvement Project procedures with 43,030 (2.1%) developing POUR. Age, sex, type of surgery, and medical comorbidities were predictive of POUR with a .71 area under the curve. Patients with POUR had greater odds of having urinary tract infections (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-2.5), suffering catheter-related complications (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 3.8-7.0), and needing additional posthospitalization care (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.25-1.4), and they had a greater length of stay (.24 extra days).

Conclusions: Patients at risk for POUR can be identified, and they may benefit from interventions to prevent POUR.