Urinary Retention Flashcards
What is urinary retention?
Inability to pass urine with residue >300ml
What is acute urinary retention?
New onset inability to pass urine
Causes of acute retention
BPH - obstruction
UTI - cause urethral sphincter to close
Severe pain
Clinical features of acute urinary retention
Acute suprapubic pain
Inability to void
Palpable distended bladder
Investigations for acute urinary retention
Post-void bladder scan - volume of retained urine - typically <800ml
Bloods
What is high-pressure urinary retention?
Urinary retention causing such high intra-vesicular pressures that anti-reflux mechanism is overridden - urine backs up into ureters and kidneys
Management of acute urinary retention
Immediate catheterisation - measure volume drained
Treat underlying cause
What is chronic urinary retention
Painless inability to pass urine
Causes of chronic urinary retention
BPH - obstructive
Pelvic prolapse
Clinical features of chronic urinary retention
Painless
Associated voiding LUTS
Overflow incontinence
Palpable distended bladder
Investigations for chronic urinary retention
Post-void bladder scan - show volume of retained urine
Bloods
Management of chronic urinary retention
Catheterised if very high post-void volumes or high pressure retention
When should you admit a patient with urinary retention?
Abnormal U&Es
Residue >1000mls
High WBCs
Clinical UTI
