Men with chronic urinary retention: treatments, complications, and consequences

The aim of this study was to explore treatment options for chronic urinary retention (CUR) in men, including complications and consequences. Male patients diagnosed with a non-neurogenic, symptomatic and/or high-risk, CUR > 150 mL were included. Data for treatments, complications, and consequences were recorded and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) calculated. We enrolled 177 patients, most initially received a urethral catheter (74%) and some form of catheterization as final treatment (87%), 49 (28%) underwent de-obstructive prostate surgery. Catheterization was more likely to be stopped after surgery (16/49 patients), compared with non-surgical cases (8/128 patients) (IRR 4.18; p < 0.001). Urinary tract infection (IRR 3.68; p < 0.001) and macroscopic hematuria (IRR 5.35; p < 0.001) were more common with catheterization, but post-renal problems were more likely in patients without catheterization (IRR 25.36; p < 0.001). The lowest complication rate was with clean intermittent catheterization. In conclusion, most patients received catheterization for CUR, with clean intermittent catheterization preferred due to its comparatively lower complication risk. De-obstructive prostate surgery increases the chance of stopping catheterization.