What is the recommended management for acute urinary retention?

The recommended management for acute urinary retention is immediate decompression through slow catheterization. This approach is critical because acute urinary retention typically presents as a sudden inability to void, often accompanied by significant discomfort or pain. In this situation, the immediate goal is to relieve the pressure and pain caused by the distended bladder.

Catheterization allows for the prompt drainage of urine, alleviating the acute symptoms and preventing potential complications, such as bladder overdistension, infection, or bladder damage. Slow catheterization is particularly important in this context because it reduces the risk of causing further trauma to the bladder and urinary tract, which can occur with more rapid decompression.

Other management strategies, such as oral diuretics, physical therapy, or increased fluid intake, do not address the immediate needs presented by acute urinary retention. Diuretics may exacerbate retention by further decreasing urine output without providing any relief. Physical therapy is not a direct treatment for urinary retention and typically focuses on strengthening relevant pelvic floor muscles, which is more appropriate for chronic bladder dysfunction rather than acute retention. Increased fluid intake may also worsen the situation by adding to an already full bladder without offering a means of relieving the retention.

Therefore, the most appropriate and immediate intervention for acute urinary retention is catheterization