title: Managing patients with a distended bladder.
abstract: A distended bladder is a serious medical situation that requires prompt intervention to drain urine and promote patient comfort. The presence of suprapubic pain distinguishes acute urinary retention from chronic retention. After decompression of the bladder, patients must be monitored closely for post-decompression complications. Additional nursing management may include preparing patients for surgery or additional diagnostic tests.
authors: Department of Surgery, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Osborne
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*