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Point-of-Care Kidney and Genitourinary Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition
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A 16-year-old boy with acute urinary retention
Curt Stankovic1, Prashant V Mahajan
1Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. estankov@dmc.org
Pediatric Emergency Care
|August 30, 2007
Summary
Urinary retention, the inability to urinate, affects adults and children differently. While adults may have retention due to prostate issues, children often experience voluntary retention, manageable with simple interventions.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pediatric Urology
Background:
- Urinary retention is the inability to voluntarily urinate despite a full bladder.
- It is a common issue in adults, particularly elderly males with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
- In children, it often presents as voluntary retention linked to urethral irritation or dysuria.
Observation:
- Pediatric urinary retention can be managed with non-invasive methods like suprapubic massage in a warm bath.
- A subset of patients, termed 'lazy voiders,' typically young girls, experience acute urinary retention due to school-related voiding embarrassment.
- Behavioral interventions such as retraining or timed voiding are effective for lazy voiders.
Findings:
- Benign causes of urinary retention in children, such as voluntary retention and lazy voiding, require careful diagnosis.
- It is crucial to rule out underlying anatomical or organic pathologies before diagnosing these benign conditions.
Implications:
- Early identification and management of pediatric urinary retention can prevent complications.
- Understanding the distinct causes and treatments for adult and pediatric urinary retention is essential for effective clinical practice.
- This highlights the importance of considering behavioral and environmental factors in pediatric voiding dysfunction.
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