Postpartum urinary retention: assessment of contributing factors and long-term clinical impact.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationships between various obstetric parameters and postpartum urinary retention, and to offer some clinical guidance for resolution of urinary retention problems.


METHODS
An observational prospective study.


METHODS
A private teaching hospital medical centre.


METHODS
A total of 2,866 vaginally delivered women were recruited with 114 women classified as urinary retention group and the remaining 2752 women categorised as control group.


RESULTS
Women in the urinary retention and control groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, fetal head circumference and fetal birth weight. Women suffering from postpartum urinary retention demonstrated significantly longer labour duration, more nulliparity and epidural analgesia and higher percentages of instrument-assisted delivery and vaginal or perineal damage.


CONCLUSIONS
Nulliparity, longer labour course, instrumental delivery, extensive vaginal and perineal laceration and use of epidural analgesia were contributing obstetric factors to postpartum urinary retention. Long-term follow-up showed that the problems of all but three of the 114 women, who complained of persistent minor urinary symptoms, were eventually resolved.
Ching-Chung
Liang
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Kwei-Shan Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Shuenn-Dhy
Chang
C
Ling-Hong
Tseng
T
Ching-Chang
Hsieh
H
Chao-Lun
Chung
C
Po-Jen
Cheng
C
D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D005113:Extraction, Obstetrical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010298:Parity; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014621:Vagina / Q000293:injuries