Epidural anesthesia does not increase the incidences of urinary retention and hesitancy in micturition after ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy.
BACKGROUND
This randomized, prospective study was designed to evaluate the role of various anesthesias in postoperative urinary retention and hesitancy in micturition in patients receiving hemorrhoidectomy on ambulatory basis.


METHODS
In a randomized order, 128 ambulatory patients, ASA physical status I or II, were divided into two groups to receive hemorrhoidectomy under epidural or local anesthesia. In all patients, the intraoperative intravenous fluid given was limited to 200 ml +/- 2 ml/kg/h of Ringer's lactate solution. Patients were requested to void urine voluntarily before discharge. The incidences of postoperative urinary retention and hesitancy in micturition were evaluated by telephone interview 24 hours after surgery.


RESULTS
Neither the incidence of urinary retention, nor the incidence of hesitancy in micturition was significantly different between the two groups. Patients with age over 50 had a significantly higher incidence of hesitancy in micturition than younger patients. The incidence of hesitancy in micturition seemed higher in male patients (31.3%) than that in females (15.6%), but the difference was not statistically different (P = 0.0585).


CONCLUSIONS
With judicious intraoperative fluid restriction and voluntary voiding before discharge, epidural anesthesia does not increase the incidence of postoperative urinary retention or hesitancy in micturition following ambulatory hemorrhoidectomy.
Kau
Yi-Chuan
YC
Department of Anesthesiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu-Shin Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Lee
Yu-Hao
YH
Li
Jihn-Yih
JY
Chen
Chit
C
Wong
Shu-Yam
SY
Wong
Teresa Kit-Man
TK
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*