[Disturbances of micturition after general surgical operations (author's transl)]

Impaired micturition after general surgical operations can be due to three causes, which occur individually or in combination. The first comprises side effects of anesthetics upon the autonomic nervous system. Inhibition of the abdominopelvic reflex, initiating micturition, due to the operative trauma represents the scond cause. Both the vegetative and the mechanical traumas, lead to decompensation of the urinary bladder, whose function is impaired by neuropathic factors and outflow obstruction. Pulmonary, cerebral, and abdominal insufficiency prolong the effects of both traumas. The third cause is direct operative injury of the sacroplexus pelvus.--Approximately 25% of all patients undergoing surgery will shown voiding disturbances in the postoperative period. The treatment consists sympatholytic therapy. In cases of neuropathic and obstructed bladders, the treatment of choice is transurethral correction of the bladder outlet.