The bladder, located in the lower abdomen, stores urine and then allows its expulsion when the urge to urinate is felt. Adults can typically store approximately 400-500cc of urine in their bladder. However, sometimes a condition called acute urinary retention occurs, making it difficult to expel urine even when the urge to urinate is present.
There are various causes of acute urinary retention. The causes are diverse, including cases where individuals have taken cold medicine containing antihistamines due to a seasonal cold, or when men with pre-existing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have consumed excessive alcohol. In various unexpected situations, a sudden inability to pass any urine can lead to an emergency where one must visit the emergency room and have a urinary catheter inserted.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to a condition where benign prostate tissue enlarges and presses on the urethra, preventing smooth urine flow and causing various voiding dysfunctions. If the cause of acute urinary retention is BPH, surgical treatment may be necessary.
If symptoms of acute urinary retention are ignored and left untreated, more significant problems can arise. If acute urinary retention symptoms persist for a long time, the bladder muscles weaken, and bladder function progressively deteriorates. Furthermore, increased bladder pressure can lead to hydronephrosis in the kidneys, among other issues, resulting in impaired kidney function.
Dr. Lee Chang-ki, director of Goldman Urology Clinic Incheon Branch, stated, "In cases of early benign prostatic hyperplasia, improvement can generally be expected with medication. However, if the effects are limited, or if treatment is difficult to continue due to side effects, or if drug efficacy decreases over time, or the prostate further enlarges, surgical treatment should be considered." He added, "Recently, procedures such as HoLEP surgery, Rezūm surgery, Aquablation therapy, and iTind have been widely performed, providing assistance to patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia."