Postoperative urinary retention. II. Micturition problems after the first catheterization.

198 out of 5220 surgical patients were catheterized because of unexpected postoperative urinary retention. In 39% of cases micturition succeeded after the first catheterization of the overdistended bladder, but 61% (58% of the males and 66% of the females) developed more copolicated voided problems. The volume of fluids given intravenously during anaesthesia, the volume of primary urinary retention and increasing age were predisposing factors for prolonged micturition difficulties. Hospitalization was protracted because of postoperative urinary retention in 21 patients, and for 20 males prostatic surgery was necessary to relieve persistent retention.