Acute Urinary Retention

Question 1

Acute Urinary Retention Definition

Answer 1

• Sudden inability to pass urine

- Requires emergency treatment

Question 2

Acute Urinary Retention Aetiology (Men, Women, Both)

Answer 2

• Men- BPH(most common cause), meatal stenosis, paraphimosis, prostate cancer
• Women (rare)- prolapse, pelvic mass, retroverted gravid uterus
• Both- blader calculi, bladder cancer, faecal impaction, malignancy
• As well as infection, inflammation, neurological

Question 3

Acute Urinary Retention Presentation

Answer 3

• Strong urge to urinate
• Usually self evident diagnosis
• Patient uncomfortable and unable to pass urine
• Tender, distended bladder

Question 4

Acute Urinary Retention Differentials

Answer 4

• Chronic retention

- Acute on chronic

Question 5

Acute Urinary Retention Investigations

Answer 5

• Urinalysis
• MSU
• Bloods
• PR
• USS to confirm
• CT

Question 6

Acute Urinary Retention Management

Answer 6

• Immediate catheterisation
• Catheter in situ until definitive management
• Tamsulosin then TWOC if no evidence of renal impairment

Question 7

Acute Urinary Retention Complications

Answer 7

• UTIs
• AKI
• CKD