Diagnosis and management of urinary retention

Failure to empty the urinary bladder completely can be attributed to failur e of detrusor contractile function, inappropriate outlet resistance, or bot h. For each of these mechanisms, anatomic, neurogenic, and end-organ (myoge nic or idiopathic) abnormalities are possible. The approach to urinary rete ntion involves systematic consideration of neurogenic, obstructive, and fun ctional causes and requires understanding of the neurophysiology and pharma cology of micturation.