Context

Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a common emergency presentation and has an incidence of 3/1000 patients each year¹. In 32,162 hospital episodes of AUR, 86% were in men and only 14% in females¹. The acute management is essentially similar between the sexes. 10% of men will have an episode of acute urinary retention between the ages of 70 and 75 years¹.

Debate continues regarding which of the three options of emergency admission and prostatectomy, discharge and elective prostatectomy or trial without catheter (TWOC) are the most effective¹².

Chronic urinary retention is painless retention, associated with an increased volume of residual urine.

Patients with urinary retention can present with complete lack of voiding, incomplete emptying, or overflow. Complications include infection and renal failure.