Covert postpartum urinary retention

This study was conducted to determine the frequency of increased postvoiding residual volumes (PVRV) 3 days after delivery and to examine the associated risk factors. Increased PVRV ‒ covert postpartum urinary retention, is an asymptomatic condition with possible long-term adverse effects. While early diagnosis and appropriate management can avoid long‑term complications, screening is not routinely performed. By identifying risk factors, we could define the group of patients suitable for screening. This was a prospective observational study carried out over a 3-month period at the university teaching hospital in Bratislava, Slovakia. All participants underwent ultrasound determination of PVRV while 80 ml and more on day 3 was considered pathological. A total of 429 women were included in the study. The prevalence of covert post-partum urinary retention was 9.2 %. Assisted vaginal delivery (ventouse, forceps) and episiotomy were risk factors for post-partum urinary retention (18.7 % vs 6.1 %; p = 0.0053; 52.1 % vs 35.7 %; p = 0.0483; respectively). Our observations confirmed the existence of PVRV of 80 ml and more on day 3 in almost 10% of women who had delivered at our clinic. The results of our study prove that instrumental delivery represents a considerable obstetrical-pediatric risk factor for PVRV. Our data support the need of adopting a risk-factor-based approach to PVRV screening as part of postpartum bladder care (Tab. 2, Fig. 1, Ref. 12).