Urinary retention is the medical disorder of inability to empty the bladder completely.
Acute urinary retention (AUR) happens suddenly and lasts only a short time.
People with acute urinary retention cannot pass urine at all, even though they have a full bladder.
Acute urinary retention, a potentially life-threatening medical disorder, needs instant emergency treatment.
Acute urinary retention can produce great discomfort or pain.
Chronic urinary retention can be a long-lasting medical disorder.
People with chronic urinary retention can still pass urine.
But they do not entirely empty all of the urine from their bladders
Urinary retention can occur from
Retention of the urethra such as enlarged prostate, urethral stricture, urinary tract stones, cystocele, rectocele, constipation, and certain tumors and cancers
Nerve problems
Medications
Weakened bladder muscles
If the nerves are injured, the brain may not get the nerve signal that the bladder is full.
Even when a person has a full bladder, the bladder muscles that press the urine out may not get the nerve signal to push, or the sphincters may not get the nerve signal to relax.
People of all ages can have nerve problems that disrupt bladder function.
Vaginal childbirth
Brain or spinal cord infections or injuries
Diabetes
Stroke
Multiple sclerosis
Pelvic injury or trauma
Different types of medicines can produce urinary retention by disrupting nerve signals to the bladder and prostate such as antihistamine, antidepressant
Weakened bladder muscles may not tighten strongly enough or long enough to empty the bladder completely, leading to urinary retention.
The symptoms of acute urinary retention may be:
Inability to urinate
Painful, urgent need to urinate
Pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen
Bloating of the lower abdomen
Diagnosis is by:
Cystoscopy
Urodynamic tests
Electromyography of bladder
Treatment is by:
Instant catheterization
Urethral dilation and stents
Prostate medicines and surgery.
An internal urethrotomy
Cystocele or rectocele repair
Tumor and cancer surgery
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Urinary Retention
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Dysuria
Chapter 8 Urine Incontinence
Epilogue