Incidence of urinary retention and relations between patient's complaint, physical examination, and bladder ultrasound

Abstract

Objective: To describe the frequency of urinary complaints, bladder globe, and need for bladder relief catheterization according to ultrasound; to investigate the relationship between the urinary volume estimated by ultrasound and the one drained in catheterization; and to describe the relationship of patient's complaints and detection of bladder globe with the diagnosis of urinary retention.

Method: A cross-sectional study with clinical patients with suspected urinary retention in a tertiary hospital, conducted from February to September 2018. Urinary volume ≥500 mL in ultrasound was considered urinary retention.

Results: Two hundred and five evaluations were performed in 44 patients. Urinary retention was detected by ultrasound in 33.2% of the evaluations. There was a strong correlation between ultrasound and bladder catheterization. There was a higher frequency of identification of bladder globe in urinary volumes ≥300 mL.

Conclusion: The incidence of urinary retention was higher when ultrasound was used for the diagnosis, when compared to patient's complaint and physical examination. Ultrasound showed to be accurate in establishing urinary volume.