Acute Urinary Retention Pathway

Acute urinary retention is a sudden painful inability to urinate. Immediate treatment is catheterisation to relieve pain, decompress the bladder and allow urine to drain.

Acute Retention of Urine (AROU) is considered a clinical emergency and is associated with increasing pain and anxiety as the episode progresses.

This pathway is only intended for MALE patients who are in AROU requiring Urinary catheterisation this is because men are more likely to go into AROU and as men become older its prevalence increases.

The most likely cause of urinary retention for men is the enlarged prostate. Women may have more complex causes. This procedure can be undertaken in the community/patients own home by staff who have undertaken the necessary training and feel competent, and safe to do so.

Referral via Single Point of Access: 01204 331 155