There are two types of causes of urinary retention: obstructive and non-obstructive. When there is obstruction, urine cannot flow freely through the urinary tract, such as kidney stones. Now when they are non-obstructive causes we talk about weak bladder muscle and nerve problems that interfere with the signals between the brain and the bladder.
The patient should see a health care professional right away if they are unable to urinate or have severe pain in the abdomen.
It is diagnosed with an ultrasound showing a very large bladder filled with urine.
Acute urinary retention can be fatal.
Urinary retention can be caused by certain drugs that interfere with nerve signals to the bladder, urethra, or prostate.
Drugs such as antihistamines and some antidepressants can cause urinary retention in both men and women. Other causes are the deposit of hard feces that occupy the rectum and exert pressure on the urethra.
The common symptoms of acute urinary retention we have:
Inability to urinate, pain in the lower abdomen and an urgent need to urinate.
Chronic urinary retention develops over time and could go unnoticed or with minimal symptoms, which could make it difficult to detect.
Treatments for urinary retention may include the following: bladder drainage, medications, medical procedures, and surgery.
The initial treatment is urinary catheterization. In some cases it is necessary to remove the urine by inserting a catheter through the skin of the abdomen, just above the pelvis. The next step is to treat the disease that has caused urinary retention.
