title: Life-threatening urinary retention after haemorrhoidectomy and internal sphincterotomy.
abstract: Postoperative urinary retention (UR) is a common complication following haemorrhoidectomy. This report presents a female patient who developed long-lasting UR after haemorrhoidectomy and internal sphincterotomy, which progressed to renal failure. The precipitating cause was represented by a non-healing anal ulcer and excruciating anal pain at evacuation. An unhealed anal wound, an inappropriate low-fibre diet, and excruciating anal pain commonly represent the key factors initiating the sequence ending into UR. History, presentation, diagnostic work-up, and treatment for this patient are described.
authors.affiliation: Coloproctology Unit, Villa Claudia Hospital, Via Flaminia Nuova 280, I-00191 Rome, Italy. lbasso@eircom.net
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Basso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernardi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayabaca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods