Sk. Yip et al., URINARY RETENTION IN THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEENOBSTETRIC FACTORS AND THE POSTPARTUM POST-VOID RESIDUAL BLADDER VOLUME, Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 76(7), 1997, pp. 667-672
Objective. The three objectives of this study are: to investigate the
incidence of post-partum urinary retention after vaginal delivery to i
nvestigate the relationship between various obstetric parameters and t
he post-partum post-void residual bladder volume and to study the natu
ral progression of the post-void residual bladder volume in patients w
ith covert post-partum urinary retention. Methods. Women who had a vag
inal delivery (n = 691) in a teaching hospital during a 2-month period
were studied. They were classified into three groups: normal patients
, those with overt urinary retention, and covert urinary retention. Th
eir day 1 post-partum post-void residual bladder volume were recorded
and analyzed with respect to the obstetric parameters. Patients with c
overt retention were followed up daily with ultrasound to monitor thei
r post-void residual volume. Results. The incidences of overt and cove
rt retention in our unit were 4.9% and 9.7%, respectively. The overall
incidence of post-partum urinary retention after vaginal delivery was
14.6%. The duration of the first and second stages of labor were sign
ificantly associated with the post-partum post-void residual bladder v
olume, In all patients with covert retention, their post-void residual
volume returned to normal within 4 days. Conclusion. Post-partum urin
ary retention is a common phenomenon that may be related to the proces
s of parturition. Covert retention is a self-limiting phenomenon and s
pecific treatment is unnecessary.