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Postpartum voiding dysfunction

^1. Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK Email: rkearney{at}doctors.net.uk
^2. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Obstetric Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, Huntley Street, London WC1E 6DH, UK

Key content:

• The postpartum bladder is vulnerable to urinary retention; if undetected, this can lead to bladder underactivity, recurrent urinary tract infection and incontinence.
  
• The aim of intrapartum bladder care is to prevent bladder overdistension.
  
• Following delivery or catheter removal, no woman should be allowed to go longer than 6 hours without voiding.
  
• All units should have a guideline for bladder care and the management of postpartum voiding dysfunction.
  

Learning objectives:

• To be aware of the risk factors for the development of postpartum voiding dysfunction and the symptoms indicating voiding problems.
  
• To learn about the management of postpartum voiding dysfunction.
  

Ethical issues:

• Is it acceptable to catheterise a woman to estimate the volume of residual urine when this can be estimated by ultrasound scanning of the bladder?
  

Please cite this article as: Kearney R, Cutner A. Postpartum voiding dysfunction. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2008;10:71–74.

Keywords intermittent self catheterisation / postpartum urinary retention / postvoid residual urine volume