of chronic retention

of chronic retention

Men with chronic retention who have relatively low volumes of residual urine and who do not have symptoms suggestive - of coexisting infection and with good renal function do not necessarily require catheterisation before proceeding to pros - tatectomy on the next available list. For those who are uraemic, urgent catheterisation is mandatory to allow renal function to recover and stabilise. Haematuria often occurs following : catheterisation o wing to collapse of the distended bladder and - upper tract, but settles within a couple of days. Uraemic patients with chronic retention are often dehy - drated at the time of admission. Owing to the chronic back pressure on the distal tubules within the kidney , there is loss of the ability to reabsorb salts and water. The result, following release of this pressur e, may be an enormous outflow of salts - and water, which is known as postobstructive diuresis. It is for this reason that a careful fluid chart, daily measurements of the patient’s weight and serial estimations of creatinine and elec - trolytes are essential. Intravenous fluid replacement is required if the patient is unable to keep up with this fluid loss. These pa tients are often anaemic and may require a blood transfusion once fluid balance is stabilised (if haemoglobin is <9 /uni00A0 g/L).