High pressure chronic retention. Incidence, aetiology and sinister implications.

A prospective analysis of 36 consecutive cases of high pressure chronic retention presenting over a 3-year period is described. Thirty-nine per cent of patients had malignant prostates and 14% had bladder tumours (overall malignancy rate 53%). The dangers of mismanagement of high pressure chronic retention include uraemic death and hypovolaemic circulatory collapse from neglected post-obstructive diuresis. The clinician should be prepared to find a high incidence of urological malignant disease in patients presenting with this syndrome.