DEFINITION—
Acute and sudden development of inability to pass urine on one’s own will.
Sometimes it is accompanied by lower abdominal pain due to overdistension of the urinary bladder with huge amounts of stored urine if the inability persists for an appreciable amount of time.
Acute urinary retention occurs in approx. 4 to 5 pregnant women out of every 1000. In some studies, its occurrence is as low as 1 in 3000 pregnancies.
TIME OF OCCURRENCE—
Mostly occurs between the 10th to 16th week of pregnancy.
CAUSES—
• Most commonly there is dysfunction of urethral sphincter relaxation.
• Woman aged 35 or more during pregnancy.
• Previous abortion.
• Endometriosis.
• Recurrent history of pelvic infection.
• Women born with deformities of the uterus.
• Fibroid uterus.
• Abnormal shape of the pelvis.
• Urinary tract infection.
SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE URINARY RETENTION—
• Distress in passing urine with decreased flow requiring more effort.
• Stop starting flow during passing urine.
• Non-passage of urine causing bladder distension and pain in the lower belly.
CONSEQUENCES-
In advanced cases bladder rupture, hydronephrosis, Acute renal failure, and spontaneous abortion.
WHAT TO DO REGARDING ACUTE URINARY RETENTION IN PREGNANCY—
Early recognition of these symptoms and information passage to your gynecologist as early as possible is a must, to avoid severe consequences. Hospitalization and continuous catheter placement inside the bladder might be necessary for 48 hours. If managed properly and on time severe complications can be easily avoided. Post-discharge from the hospital, you might be prescribed certain exercises, which need to be done without fail.
To know more about this and seek help you can book an appointment with me by calling on 9830047058/8017815356 OR you can go to the appointments section on www.deborjyotipal.com.
