Postpartum urinary retention: an expert review.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Urology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is a common complication following childbirth.
• Untreated PUR can lead to detrusor muscle and parasympathetic nerve damage, and in rare cases, bladder rupture.
• Existing knowledge gaps among patients and providers hinder timely diagnosis and evidence-based care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the impact and potential severity of postpartum urinary retention.
• To emphasize the need for standardized definitions and management algorithms for PUR.
• To propose intrapartum recommendations and a postpartum bladder management protocol.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on postpartum urinary retention.
• Identification of different types of PUR: overt, covert, and persistent.
• Analysis of barriers to diagnosis and management.

Main Results:

• PUR can manifest as inability to void (overt) or incomplete emptying (covert).
• Persistent retention can extend beyond the third postpartum day.
• Lack of standardized guidelines and provider/patient knowledge gaps impede effective management.

Conclusions:

• Standardized definitions and management protocols for postpartum urinary retention are essential.
• Implementing proposed intrapartum recommendations and a postpartum bladder management protocol can improve patient outcomes.
• Further research and development of evidence-based guidelines are needed for optimal patient care.