Objective: To evaluate current practice in the management of acute urinary retention (AUR) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in France.
Patients and methods: In all, 2618 men (median age 72 years) presenting with non-febrile AUR were enrolled by 658 French urologists in a prospective cross-sectional survey. The patients' demography, history of BPH, type of AUR and its management (trial without catheter, TWOC, use of alpha(1)-blockers, immediate or elective surgery, other alternatives) were collected.
Results: Of the 2618 men analysed, 1875 (71.6%) had spontaneous AUR (sAUR) and 743 (28.4%) had precipitated AUR (pAUR), mainly after surgery with locoregional or general anaesthesia. BPH was revealed by AUR in 52.3% of men with pAUR and 25.9% of men with sAUR. A urethral catheter was inserted in most cases (82.7%) while only 16.7% had a suprapubic catheter. After initial catheterization, 72.8% of men had a TWOC (pAUR 89.4%, sAUR 66.2%, P < 0.001) after a median of 3 days of catheterization, 17.9% had elective surgery after a median of 8 days of catheterization (pAUR 7.1%, sAUR 22.1%, P < 0.001), 5.7% had immediate surgery after a median of 4 days of catheterization (pAUR 1.1%, sAUR 7.5%, P < 0.001), 0.4% had a urethral stent inserted and 1.1% had an indwelling catheter. Of the 1906 men who had a TWOC, 79% received an alpha(1)-blocker (mainly alfuzosin) before catheter removal. The TWOC was successful in 50.2% of men (pAUR 52.3%, sAUR, 49.0%, P = 0.17) and the success rate was significantly higher in men receiving an alpha(1)-blocker (53.0% vs 39.6%, P < 0.001) before the TWOC. If the TWOC failed, 33.4% had a second TWOC (pAUR 39.9%, sAUR 30.2%, P = 0.003) after a median of 7 days re-catheterization, 57.5% had elective surgery (pAUR 49.1%, sAUR, 61.7%, P < 0.001) after a median of 8 days re-catheterization, 1.5% had a stent inserted and 1.1% had an indwelling catheter. The overall success rate of a second TWOC was 25.9% (pAUR 32.2%, sAUR 21.9%, P = 0.04). Men catheterized for >3 days had a slightly lower success rate for TWOC, greater comorbidity and double the rate of prolonged hospitalization due to adverse events than those catheterized for < or = 3 days.
Conclusions: TWOC after a median of 3 days of catheterization has become standard practice in France for men with BPH and AUR. alpha(1)-blockade before a TWOC significantly increases the chance of a successful TWOC. If the TWOC fails, only a quarter of men will have a successful second TWOC. All efforts should be made to reduce the duration of catheterization, to reduce the comorbidity.