The most common treatment for urinary retention is an indwelling urinary catheter, which causes 80% of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections. Appropriate use of bladder ultrasonography can reduce the rate of bladder damage as well as the need to use an indwelling urinary catheter.
Urinary retention may cause harm to the function of the bladder and the kidneys, incontinence, and may increase the risk of urinary tract infections. Thus, it requires urgent medical attention for evaluation and management. In some cases, hospitalization is required.
The most common surgery is transurethral resection of the prostate. In this procedure, the urologist uses a tiny tool, inserted through a catheter, to remove a section of the prostate. This treatment is used frequently for urinary retention caused by BPH.
Acute urinary retention, a potentially life-threatening medical condition, requires immediate emergency treatment. Acute urinary retention can cause great discomfort or pain.
People with acute urinary retention are unable to urinate even though they have a full bladder. Acute urinary retention can cause severe pain and be life threatening. If you are suddenly unable to urinate, it's important that you seek emergency medical treatment right away.
Conclusion: Urinary retention can lead to serious complications, including bladder rupture.
Medications that can help treat urinary retention include : antibiotics for infections of the prostate, bladder, or urinary tract. medications to relax your prostate or sphincters and help urine flow more freely. medications to reduce the size of your prostate (if you have BPH)
Depending on the type of treatment, recovery can take anywhere between two days to several months.
The most common cause of urinary retention is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other common causes include prostatitis, cystitis, urethritis, and vulvovaginitis; receiving medications in the anticholinergic and alpha-adrenergic agonist classes; and cortical, spinal, or peripheral nerve lesions.
The symptoms of urinary retention can range from severe abdominal pain and the inability to urinate, to few or no symptoms at all. Urinary retention results from either a blockage that partially or fully prevents the flow of urine, or your bladder not being able to maintain a strong enough force to expel all the urine.
In addition to causing discomfort, urinary retention increases the patient's risk for developing a urinary tract infection (UTI). See Figure 16.5 for an image of an enlarged prostate gland blocking the flow of urine from the bladder into the urethra.
Chronic kidney disease: for some people, urinary retention causes urine to flow backwards into the kidneys. This backward flow is called reflux and it may damage or scar the kidneys. Urinary incontinence: this may occur together with chronic urinary retention or after surgery (eg, for prostate enlargement).
For those with chronic urinary retention, it may be hard to start the flow of urine or have a weak flow after starting. Some may also feel the urge to urinate after completing since they aren't completely emptying their bladder. The chronic condition is most often found in older men, but can also occur in women.
Acute urinary retention can be life threatening. If you have any of the other symptoms of urinary retention, such as trouble urinating, frequent urination, or leaking urine, talk with your health care professional about your symptoms and possible treatments. Chronic urinary retention can cause serious health problems.
Bladder irritants
Coffee, tea and carbonated drinks, even without caffeine. Alcohol. Certain acidic fruits — oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes — and fruit juices. Spicy foods.
Incomplete retention is diagnosed by a postvoid residual volume > 50 mL (> 100 mL in patients > 65). Prescribe urethral catheterization and treat the cause of retention.
In most cases, patients with bladder rupture have gross hematuria (77% to 100%). Other symptoms of bladder rupture include pelvic pain, lower abdominal pain, and difficulty voiding. It is important to note that trauma to the urinary tract is frequently associated with other traumatic injuries.
People with anxiety disorders can experience a range of symptoms and side effects, even physical ones. More frequent symptoms include a pounding or rapid heartbeat, unexplained aches and pains, dizziness, and shortness of breath, but anxiety can also cause less common side effects like urinary retention.
Urine might be retained if there is an obstruction or stricture (narrowing) in or around the bladder, or when muscles in or around the bladder are weak. Certain types and locations of tumors, certain medications, being dehydrated, or having constipation can also cause urinary retention.
In clinical studies, a strong correlation has been shown between psychological/mental stressors and symptoms of OAB, stress urinary incontinence, urinary retention, and IC/BPS.
See your doctor immediately if your bladder feels full but you cannot urinate at all. If your doctor is not available, go to the emergency department.