Prevention of urinary retention after anorectal operations.

Abstract

Postoperative inability to urinate is likely to be due to acute distention of the bladder by rapid fluid intake, general sensory depression, sphincter spasm, prostatic obstruction, or a combination of these factors. A simple, effective method for the prevention of postoperative urinary retention and the need for catheterization which approaches 100 per cent effectiveness has been outlined. It consists of enteral and parenteral fluid restriction in the pre- and postoperative periods and theprecise instruction of the patient and nursing staff in proper technic to achieve this goal. It is extremely important to make positive statements and give precise instructions to the patient. If this is not done properly, there will be approximately 10 per cent failures. Use of the method resulted in spontaneous urination in 100 consecutive adult patients of all ages following surgical procedures on the anorectum.