TITLE:
Acute Postpartum Urine Retention: Case Report and Review of the Literature
AUTHORS:
Owon’abessolo Philip Fenandez, Fouda Jean Cédrick, Etobe Cécile, Ngo Digom Madye, Diarra Alkadri, Beling Abanda Yvon Gérard, Eba Yolande, Ebong Cliford, Badiaga Cheickna, Essiben Félix, Fouda Pierre Joseph, Honore Berthe, Diakite Lamine, Angwafo III Fru
KEYWORDS:
Postpartum Urinary Retention, Dystocic Vaginal Delivery, Transurethral Urinary Catheter
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Urology,
Vol.14 No.12,
December
23,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Acute postpartum urine retention is a condition whose failure to recognize it can lead to delays in diagnosis, which can worsen the prognosis, and to inappropriate management. It occurs in 0.7% to 0.9% of vaginal deliveries. Its aetiology is multifactorial. There are many risk factors. Treatment is based on intermittent evacuation catheterization. Today, there is no consensus on the management of this condition, which has received little attention in African literature. Hence the interest of this article. Clinical Case: This is a 46 years old female, G5P5 005, with no prior history of involvement, who, after a dystocic vaginal delivery (longer than 12 hours with long foetal expulsion) and at term of a female newborn weighing 3475 g, developed hypogastric pain and spontaneous failure to urinate within 24 hours of delivery. The physical examination revealed abdominal tenderness and dullness with a strong desire to urinate and a normal neurological examination. The diagnosis was postpartum urinary retention. A bladder catheter inserted through the urethra drained 1100 ml of clear urine. Management consisted of physical measures and the prescription of an alpha blocker (Alfuzosin 4 mg). Two days later, the patient urinated normally. Conclusion: Acute postpartum retention in routine practice is rare but may be underestimated. Measures need to be taken to diagnose and manage this complication and also to determine the epidemiology of this postpartum complication.