Pharmacologic management of postoperative overdistention of the bladder

Postoperative bladder distention, accompanied by serious difficulties in micturition, is not a rare occurrence in surgical patients. Two similar groups of patients undergoing surgical treatment were studied. In one group of 21 patients who received phenoxybenzamine prophylactically only one patient had urinary retention develop; nine of 22 patients in the control group who did not receive prophylactic phenoxybenzamine postoperatively had urinary retention develop. All of the latter patients who then received phenoxybenzamine were ultimately relieved of voiding difficulties. Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha adrenergic blocker, is recommended as an effective and safe drug in diminishing or abolishing obstructive urinary symptoms postoperatively.