Urinary retention resulting from incarceration of a retroverted, gravid uterus

Urinary retention resulting from urethral obstruct ion by a retroverted, gr avid uterus is an uncommon disorder that is reported only once in the Emerg ency medicine literature. Yet these patients may present in extreme distres s and precipitate considerably confusion regarding the cause of and solutio n to this problem. No study evaluating outcome, risk of complications, or t herapy exists, We present two cases that clarify diagnostic and therapeutic controversies and provide a better understanding of what is known about th e pathophysiology and treatment alternatives. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc .