title: Acute urinary retention and the difficult catheterization: current emergency management.
abstract: Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a common presentation to emergency departments. This article updates the reader on the appropriate management, investigations and guidelines for AUR. It looks at the mechanism of normal micturition and describes the theories of AUR. It outlines urethral catheterization techniques for difficult cases, reviews suprapubic catheterization procedures and describes the management of AUR in polytrauma. Although emergency management is by bladder drainage, key points in the history and examination may expose significant, latent pathologies.
authors.affiliation: aUrology Unit, Department of Surgery, Austin Health, University of Melbourne bOlivia Newton-John Cancer Research Centre and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne cEpworth Emergency Department, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ania
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sliwinski
authors.forename: Frank T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: D'Arcy
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lawrentschuk
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000628:therapy*