Bladder dysfunction after a stroke--it's not always inevitable

Bladder dysfunction frequently accompanies a stroke but, with appropriate management, is not necessarily a permanent deficit. Voiding problems most often experienced after a stroke include urgency, frequency, incontinence, and urinary retention. A clamping routine prior to indwelling urinary catheter removal did not affect the incidence of voiding dysfunction after a stroke. Checking consecutive post-voided residual urine volumes after a stroke is indicated to evaluate the effectiveness of bladder emptying; intermittent sterile catheterization is recommended if there is a problem.