The Reten-World survey of the management of acute urinary retention: preliminary results

Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a urological emergency characterized by a sudden and painful inability to pass urine. It represents a significant worldwide public health issue, as mortality within the year following an AUR episode appears much higher than in the general population, especially in younger patients. Management of AUR involves immediate bladder catheterization usually followed, until recently, by prostatic surgery. The greater morbidity and mortality associated with emergency surgery (within a few days after AUR), and the potential morbidity associated with prolonged catheterization (bacteriuria, fever, urosepsis) has led to an increasing use of a trial without catheter (TWOC). TWOC involves catheter removal after 1-3 days, allowing 23-40% of patients to void successfully, so that surgery can be performed at a later stage, if needed. Use of an alpha(1)-blocker before a TWOC may also be of help, as it has been demonstrated that it increases the chances of successful voiding after catheter removal. In the UK, this TWOC policy has resulted in a progressive decrease in the number of surgical procedures following a first episode of AUR, with the detriment of a slight increase in the AUR recurrence rate. Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal management of AUR in terms of type of catheterization, duration of catheterization and management following catheterization. The Reten-World survey is aimed at assessing current practice in the management of AUR in France, Asia, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East. Interim results based on 3785 men with AUR associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia show that a urethral catheter is inserted in most cases (87%). Following this initial step, a TWOC after a median of 3 days' catheterization has become standard practice worldwide, with only a minority of men (6%) undergoing immediate surgery. Treatment with an alpha(1)-blocker before a TWOC improves the chances of success, regardless of the duration of catheterization. There is also evidence that prolonged catheterization (> 3 days) is associated with a significantly higher rate of comorbidity and prolonged hospitalization due to adverse events. Every effort should thus be made to reduce the comorbidity and mortality associated with AUR.