Intravenous urography in the management of acute retention

A retrospective analysis of the frequency of requests for an intravenous urogram (I.V.P.) in men with acute retention of urine showed that this investigation was performed in 82%. In no instance, however, did the urographic findings influence the decision to operate or the type of operation performed. The introduction of a specialised urological service did not reduce the number of I.V.P.s requested because most referrals to the urologist were made after the I.V.P. Patients who had an I.V.P. waited on average 8 days from admission to operation compared with 3-5 days for those who did not. We conclude that no purpose is served by a routine I.V.P. in every male patient admitted to hospital with acute retention of urine.