Inability to urinate

Description

Urine retention or inability to urinate. Inability of bladder emptying. Urinary retention can be caused with the obstruction in the urinary tract or nerve problems which interfere between the brain and the bladder. There are many reasons and the disorder can appear during long period of time (chronic) or suddenly (acute). Persons with chronic urine retention can urinate but the stream is reduced and often the bladder cannot empty completely. Acute retention is medically urgent condition because the kidneys can fail if the urine cannot pass. Enlargement of the prostate is the most common cause for urine retention in men.

Symptoms

Pain in lower part of the abdomen, pain in loin, bloating in lower part of the abdomen, leaking of the urine, frequent urination.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done. Ultrasound of bladder and/or insertion of catheter for measurement of amount of the urine retained in the bladder after urination. Blood analysis for BUN (urea nitrate) and creatine for evaluation of the kidney function.

Tests

CT scan, ultrasound and analysis of urine.

Additional analyses

Urodynamics, scan of the bladder, cystoscopy.

Specialists

General Practice, Internal Medicine, Urology

Therapy

Therapy is directed at alleviating the obstruction and removing the cause of the retention. The initial treatment is insertion of the catheter in the bladder. Antibiotics are given if the urine is infected. Men with the enlarged prostate may require a surgery.