Acute urinary retention

This is a medical emergency caused by complete obstruction to urine outflow. The bladder expands to its maximum volume and causes extreme pain within a few hours.

It may follow years of worsening urinary retention.
It is the most common urologic emergency in men. It is rare in women. 

Causes 

See: Urinary retention

 

Complications

• Delirium 
• Hydronephrosis
• Pyonephrosis
• Acute kidney injury
• Sepsis 
• Spontaneous urinary bladder rupture

 

Management

• Urinary catheterisation 
• Prostatic stenting 
• Suprapubic cystostomy