URINE RETENTION

URINE RETENTION

Definition

Urine retention refers to the inability to pass urine, which can be acute or chronic. Acute urinary retention is a sudden inability to urinate, while chronic urinary retention is a long-term inability to urinate.

Types

There are several types of urine retention, including:

• Acute Urinary Retention: A sudden inability to urinate, often caused by a blockage or obstruction in the urinary tract.
• Chronic Urinary Retention: A long-term inability to urinate, often caused by a neurological or urethral abnormality.
• Postoperative Urinary Retention: Inability to urinate after surgery, often caused by anesthesia or postoperative pain.
• Neurogenic Urinary Retention: Inability to urinate due to a neurological disorder, such as spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.

Causes

The causes of acute urinary retention include:

• Stranguria: Painful urination, often caused by a urinary tract infection.
• Urethral Stricture: Narrowing of the urethra, which can cause urine to back up into the bladder.
• Bladder Neck Obstruction: A narrowing of the bladder neck, which can cause urine to back up into the bladder.
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Enlargement of the prostate gland, which can cause urine to back up into the bladder.
• Spinal Cord Injury: Damage to the spinal cord, which can cause urine retention.
• Multiple Sclerosis: A neurological disorder that can cause urine retention.

Clinical Features

The clinical features of acute urinary retention include:

• Painful Urination: Painful urination, often caused by a urinary tract infection.
• Difficulty Urinating: Difficulty starting or stopping the flow of urine.
• Urinary Incontinence: Involuntary leakage of urine.
• Dysuria: Painful urination.
• Frequency: Needing to urinate frequently.

Investigations

The investigations for acute urinary retention include:

• Physical Examination: A physical examination to check for signs of urinary retention, such as a distended bladder or a urinary catheter.
• Urinalysis: A test of the urine to check for infection or other abnormalities.
• Imaging Studies: Imaging studies, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, to check for blockages or obstructions in the urinary tract.
• Urodynamic Studies: Tests to check the function of the urinary tract, including the bladder and urethra.

Complications

The complications of acute urinary retention include:

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): An infection of the urinary tract, which can cause symptoms such as pain, fever, and urine that is cloudy or bloody.
• Kidney Damage: Damage to the kidneys, which can cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, and difficulty urinating.
• Chronic Kidney Disease: A condition in which the kidneys are damaged and are unable to function properly.
• Bladder Damage: Damage to the bladder, which can cause symptoms such as pain, difficulty urinating, and urinary incontinence.

Management

The management of acute urinary retention includes:

• Catheterization: Insertion of a urinary catheter to drain the bladder.
• Surgical Options: Surgical options, such as a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or a suprapubic cystostomy, to relieve the obstruction and restore normal urination.
• Medical Management: Medical management, such as medications to relax the bladder muscles or to improve urine flow, to relieve symptoms of urinary retention.

Treatment

The treatment of acute urinary retention includes:

• Catheterization: Insertion of a urinary catheter to drain the bladder.
• Surgical Options: Surgical options, such as a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or a suprapubic cystostomy, to relieve the obstruction and restore normal urination.
• Medical Management: Medical management, such as medications to relax the bladder muscles or to improve urine flow, to relieve symptoms of urinary retention.

Homoeopathic Therapeutic Medicines

Homoeopathic therapeutic medicines for urine retention include:

• Apis mellifica: For painful urination and difficulty urinating.
• Cantharis: For painful urination and difficulty urinating.
• Sarsaparilla: For urinary tract infections and difficulty urinating.
• Berberis: For painful urination and difficulty urinating.

Indications for homoeopathic therapeutic medicines for urine retention include:

• Painful urination
• Difficulty urinating
• Urinary incontinence
• Dysuria
• Frequency