Admission of patients with acute urinary retention leads to a definitive management decision

Background Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a common urologic emergency. However, its management is not standardized due to lack of clinical guidelines. Aims We retrospectively reviewed the treatment of all male patients admitted to our institution with AUR over 12 months. Methods Data was obtained from the HIPE (Hospital Inpatient Enquiry) data system, each patient’s electronic discharge summary and from patient medical records. Results There were 130 AUR admissions during the period. About 74 admissions were due to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Of these, 45.9% ( n = 34) passed their trial without catheter (TWOC). The remainder ( n = 40) failed their TWOC necessitating recatheterization and consideration for transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) or re-TWOC. An indwelling urinary catheter (IDC) was inserted for 27.5% ( n = 11) of patients with a failed TWOC secondary to comorbidities. This group had a mean age of 78 years (range 68–96 years). Of those who failed their TWOC, 32.5% ( n = 13) had a TURP on index admission. Of the remaining 16 patients with failed TWOC, 75% ( n = 12) were discharged with an IDC and readmitted for an elective TURP with a median waiting time of 55 days (range 17–138 days). 18.75% ( n = 3) passed a re-TWOC and thus offset the need to have any surgical intervention and 6.25% ( n = 1) proceeded to a radical retropubic prostatectomy for biopsy proven prostate adenocarcinoma. Conclusion Admission of patients with acute urinary retention leads to a definitive management decision and reduced prolonged catheterization.