title: Management of men with a first episode of acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of the existing management protocol of patients presenting with acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement on clinical efficacy and surgical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Urology Unit at the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Galle.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 consecutive patients with a first episode of acute urinary retention due to a clinically benign enlarged prostate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Success of voiding urine after one week of treatment with an alpha adrenoceptor blocker (prazosin). Incidence of subsequent urinary retention during the follow up period of 6 months despite continuing treatment with the drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 94 patients who completed the follow up period of 6 months, 56 voided successfully after the initial trial without catheter at one week. However, 12 of them developed urinary retention during the follow up and required surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with an alpha adrenoceptor blocker followed by a single trial without catheter can avoid prostatic surgery in 40% of patients with acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement.
authors.affiliation: Urology Unit, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Galle. amabey@sltnet.lk
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abeygunasekera
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurusingha
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wijeratne
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011224:Prazosin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011224:Prazosin