Abstract
This study aims to determine if systematic use of bladder scan accurately identifies more women with postpartum urinary retention compared with diagnosis using clinical signs and symptoms, alone. A prospective, quasi experimental study was performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jonkoping, Sweden. A total of 252 women participated in this study; they were women who gave birth between the period of March and April, 2011. One hundred and twenty-six women were included in an experimental group, they received ultrasound scanning of post-void residual bladder volume for identification of urinary retention; patients were catheterized if post-void residual bladder volume was ≥400 ml. A control group of 126 women, matched by parity and age, were also included. The latter group were catheterized on clinical signs or symptoms of urinary retention. Twenty-one women in the experimental group were identified as having post-void residual bladder volume ≥400 ml compared to 9 in the control group, verified by catheterization (p 120 min, active pushing >30 min and perineal tear. Oxytocin infusion and perineal tear were independent risk indicators in a multivariable regression analysis. Systematic bladder scanning identifies more women with postpartum urinary retention in women with vaginal delivery than diagnosis by clinical signs and symptoms, alone. Oxytocin infusion and perineal tear are independent risk indicators for urinary retention in new delivered women. Key words: Postpartum urinary retention, postpartum voiding dysfunction, bladder scanning, catheterization, birth.
Highlights
Postpartum urinary retention (PUR), or voiding dysfunction, is a well-known phenomenon in the puerperium (Yip et al, 2004; Mulder et al, 2014)
Twenty-one women in the experimental group were identified as having PUR verified by catheterization, with open PUR and with covert PUR
Nine women in the control group were identified with PUR, and this was less than in the experimental group (p < 0.05)
Summary
Postpartum urinary retention (PUR), or voiding dysfunction, is a well-known phenomenon in the puerperium (Yip et al, 2004; Mulder et al, 2014). The incidence of PUR varies from 0.5 to 45% in women who have just delivered babies. This variability among studies may be due to an unclear definition for PUR (Kekre et al, 2011). Overt PUR is the inability to void spontaneously within 6 h of vaginal delivery or removal of a urinary catheter after birth (Carley et al, 2002; Yip et al, 2004; Kekre et al 2011)
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