Effect of constipation on acute urinary retention following transrectal prostate biopsy

To evaluate the possible effect of constipation on the acute urinary retention (AUR) after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS PB).

A total of 1,167 patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >4 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal examination underwent a standard 12 core transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy in our hospital and the findings were examined prospectively. Chronic constipation (CC) was defined according to the Rome IV criteria. All cases were well evaluated with respect to clinical-histopathological factors; International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate volume, post-void residue, age, body mass index, histopathological inflammation, and AUR.

The mean age of patients was 64.63±8.31 years, the PSA level was 11.60±16.83 ng/mL, and the prostate volume was 54.66±25.44 mL. In 265 cases (22.7%), CC anamnesis was present and AUR developed in 28 (2.4%) of the cases. In the multivariate analysis for the risk of developing urinary retention, prostate volume, pre-operative IPSS, and presence of CC requiring manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation were found to be risk factors (p=0.023, 0.010, and 0.001, respectively).

Our findings demonstrated that CC may be a critical factor in the prediction of AUR formation following TRUS PB.