What Causes Urinary Retention In An Elderly Person?

Posted on Sun, 27 Aug 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 Answered on

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I am the caregiver/boyfriend of my 84 year old girlfriend. For the first time in the 2 years I have been straight cathing her for urination, she didn't urinate. That was at 8 AM this morning. I tried to take her to the bathroom for urination at 1 PM but she was throwing up so I am waiting. She cannot walk so first I have to transfer her from the couch to a wheelchair than transfer her from the wheelchair to the toilet. At present she is too weak to assist me in the transfer. Now she is sleeping. This failure to urinate has never happened before. Last urination was last night at 10 PM. Do I need to take immediate action and get medical help or can I wait for a few hours and try to take her to the bathroom again?

Answered by Dr. salah saad shoman (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Immediate action

Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, I have gone through your question and I understand your concerns but failure to pass urine is a serious condition that needs immediate medical intervention . I would recommend that you take her as soon as possible to the hospital where they will introduce a catheter to evacuate the urine in her bladder then run a series of tests to diagnose the cause.. causes of urine retention can be due to acute obstruction by a ureteric or bladder stone or due to muscle weakness or nerve dysfunction .. The tests will include ultrasound or ct scan pelvis and post voiding tests.. The management will be decided based on the cause diagnosed . I hope I answered your question . if you don't have any other clarifications then please close the discussion .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T