What Is Bladder Retention?

Bladder retention may be an acute or chronic condition. In acute bladder retention, there is a sudden buildup of urine in the bladder resulting in excruciating pain, discomfort and abdominal and bladder distention. In chronic bladder retention, the patient passes urine in small amounts without completely emptying the bladder, creating retention of urine that usually causes no pain.

Facts

• According to Organizedwisdom.com, catheterization (using sterile technique to pass a catheter through the urethra into the bladder to drain it) will instantly relieve an acute urinary retention. Failure to treat urinary retention can cause damage to the urinary tract and kidneys.

Definition

• Bladder retention is an obstruction of the normal flow of urine from the bladder into the urethra and out of the body. It is the inability to pass urine---the bladder is full and the patient feels the urge to void but is unable to do so. Acute bladder retention is a painful and uncomfortable condition that needs immediate medical treatment.

Symptoms

• In addition to the excruciating pain and discomfort of acute bladder retention, other symptoms include abdominal fullness and pain in the lower abdomen. In chronic bladder retention there is absence of pain; but over a period of time, symptoms may include any or all of the following: a frequent urge to pass urine, abdominal distention and a weak stream when passing urine, along with on-and-off dribbling of urine.

Causes

• A common cause of urine retention in the bladder is due to aging. In men, it is as a result of an enlarged prostate that may be blocking the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra. In women, a prolapsed bladder or uterus may block the urinary flow and cause retention. Other causes may be related to nerve damage, such as a spinal cord injury, or as a result of prolonged elevated blood sugar in diabetic patients.

Treatment

• The goals in treating a patient with bladder retention are to empty the bladder and relieve the pain and or discomfort of the condition, along with identifying and treating the source or cause of the problem. The patient will be catheterized by inserting a catheter (a thin, rubber tube) into the urethra and into the bladder to empty it. Follow-up tests will be done to find and treat the source.