Urinary Retention

Question 1

what is acute urinary retention

Answer 1

“painful inability to void with a palpable and percussible bladder”

Question 2

which is painful, acute or chronic urinary retention

Answer 2

acute

Question 3

what is chronic urinary retention

Answer 3

“painless, palpable and percussible bladder after voiding”

Question 4

which type of urinary retention can be caused by BPO

Answer 4

both

Question 5

one other thing that can cause both AUR and CUR

Answer 5

a urethral stricture

Question 6

treatment for acute

Answer 6

catheterisation and treat underlying cause

if no renal failure start alpha blocker, remove catheter in 2 days, if no successful then organise TURP

Question 7

treatment for chronic

Answer 7

catheterisation

IV fluids

long term catheter or TURP

Question 8

residual volume of acute

Answer 8

500ml-1L

Question 9

residual volume of chronic

Answer 9

400ml-2L

Question 10

presentation of chronic retention

Answer 10

as it’s painless it tends to present with LUTS or its complications

Question 11

complication of catheterising chronic urinary retention

Answer 11

they can go into pathological diuresis:

• urine output >200ml/hour
• postural hypotension
• weight loss
• electrolyte abnormalities

Question 12

why put someone on IV fluids after catheterising their chronic urinary retention

Answer 12

because they may go into pathological diuresis so you need to give them plenty of water and electrolytes