Surgery | Common Surgical Conditions | Genitourinary Disease: Urinary Retention

Genitourinary Disease: Urinary Retention
Session Overview
Description
This session will provide an overview of urinary retention including the different types, causes and initial investigations and management.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• List the different types of urinary retention
• Describe bladder outlet obstruction
• List the causes of urinary retention
• Describe how to manage acute urinary retention

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should have:

• Basic knowledge of the anatomy of the urinary tract system
• Basic understanding in the physiology of normal micturition

Urinary retention describes the inability to void the bladder normally. This can be acute or chronic and can occur in both males and females, although it is more commonly associated with men who have bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) from an enlarged prostate.

Acute urinary retention is a common urological presentation. Studies have shown 1 in 10 men in their 70s will have an episode of urinary retention within 5 years [1](read details regarding the reference). Following a trial without catheter (TWOC) after an acute episode of retention, only 60% will be able to resume normal voiding [2](read details regarding the reference).

Studies have shown that mortality in men in the first year following an episode of acute urinary retention is 2-3 times higher than the general population. The 1 year mortality rate is 45% in men aged over 80 years who've had a precipitated episode of acute urinary retention [2](read details regarding the reference).

Understanding the causes of urinary retention and how to manage these patients is therefore an essential part of managing urological patients.