Postoperative Urinary Retention in Postanesthesia Care Unit Detected by Ultrasound Scanner / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postoperative urinary retention is a common postoperative complication. Persistent distention of the bladder may affect the function of the detrusor, resulting in impairment of micturition. This study examined the risk factors and incidence of early postoperative urinary retention and distention in PACU (postanesthesia care unit) using an ultrasound scanner. METHODS: The bladder volume was measured in 228 surgical patients before discharge from the PACU using an ultrasound scanner. The postoperative urinary retention was defined as the inability to void at a bladder volume exceeding 500 ml within 30 min. The potential variables of urinary retention were collected including age, gender, type of surgery and anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, amount of perioperative fluid, post operative patient-controlled analgesia, and anticholinergics. The independent risk factors for postoperative urinary retention were identified by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative urinary retention in the PACU was 14.0%. Risk factors of the early postoperative urinary retention in the PACU detected by the ultrasound scanner were age (50 yr, odds ratio = 3.3), spinal anesthesia (odds ratio = 2.6) and the amount of perioperative fluid (700 ml, odds ratio = 4). CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that early postoperative urinary retention be evaluated routinely using an ultrasound scanner in the PACU, particularly in older patients and patients given a large amount of perioperative fluid after spinal anesthesia.