[Epidemiology of emergency consultations for acute urine retention]

Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a common reason for emergency consultation. It may be spontaneous or precipitated and affects both men and women. The purpose of this study was to determine the profile of men visiting emergency departments for an AUR.

A retrospective monocentric study including all men who consulted the emergency department between January 2014 and December 2016 for AUR was conducted.

In 3 years, 731 patients were admitted for AUR (611 men and 120 women). The mean age was 71.6±14 years with a mean retention volume of 948±668mL drained for 96% of patients (n=584) through a bladder catheter and 4% (n=27) with a suprapubic catheter. Most patients had an urological (66%, n=104) or neurologic (40%, n=242) history and 23% (n=136) already had an episode of AUR. In 28% of cases (n=173), the globe was not painful. A majority of AUR were spontaneous, 53% (n=326) versus 46% (n=279) who were precipitated, secondary to a recent surgical procedure (<1 month) (15%, n=89), hematuria (9%, n=54), or male urinary tract infections (7%, n=42). Patients were treated externally in 71% (n=436), 25% (n=153) were hospitalized with significantly more comorbidities.

Men consulting emergency for AUR are 72 years old, with a globe volume of 942mL. Thirty-three percent have a history of BPH, with a prostate treatment like alpha-blockers type. Almost all patients were treated with a bladder catheter and the majority was treated externally.

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