Postpartum urinary retention: a systematic review of adverse effects and management

Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is a well-known condition after childbirth. Often clinicians assume that this condition is transient, either through belief or by not being aware that its occurrence as measurement of post-void residual volume (PVRV) is often not routine. However, long lasting urinary retention is a serious condition that needs management in order to prevent urogenital tract morbidity. By performing a systematic review of the adverse effects of PUR and management of this condition, we aimed to identify the necessity of diagnosing this condition in the puerperium and to evaluate whether treatment is required.

We searched for all studies on PUR in OVID MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE, and ongoing Trial registers. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data.

Twenty-four papers were included in this review. Limited data on adverse effects demonstrate potential morbidities, like micturition symptoms and sporadically spontaneous bladder ruptures, related to PUR.

Based on current literature, evidence stating that PUR is harmless is lacking. Future research should focus on management strategies for overt PUR and the long-term consequences of covert PUR. Until these results are available, clinicians should be aware of the potential consequences and therefore keep trying to identify patients at risk of PUR and patients with the actual condition.