ABSTRACT
Acute retention of urine is a condition seen predominantly in men and rarely in women. Patients with acute urinary retention present with severe discomfort and a sudden inability to pass urine, and the history and clinical findings quickly point to the diagnosis. However, in the presence of a neurological lesion or following an epidural anaesthetic it may be painless. The inability to void should be over 12 hours, requiring catheterization with removal of a volume equal to or greater than bladder capacity.
