title: [Delirium due to urinary retention: confusing for both the patient and the doctor].
abstract: A delirium due to urinary retention confuses both patient and physician. Three patients presented with delirium and/or physical deterioration had a bladder retention. A man aged 82 had delirium and an acute renal failure due to a urinary retention with an enlarged prostate gland. A woman aged 81 had a delirium and a bladder retention due to an atonic bladder. A man aged 71 showed cognitive deterioration and a bladder retention due to a backbone-fracture and faecal impaction. In the elderly it is very important to include urinary retention in differential diagnosis because its presentation can be atypical.
authors.affiliation: Afdeling Klinische Geriatrie, Rijnstate Ziekenhuis, Oss. wester_waale@hetnet.nl
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Waale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruijns
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Dautzenberg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005244:Fecal Impaction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*