Drugs for treatment of urinary retention after surgery in adults.

Post-operative urinary retention, the inability to void following surgery despite a full bladder, is usually transitory but can be prolonged in some cases. It can lead to several complications including urinary tract infection, long term bladder dysfunction and kidney damage leading to chronic kidney disease. Catheterisation, generally regarded as the optimal management method, is associated with risks and so pharmacological treatment of post-operative urinary retention that could remove or reduce the need for catheterisation is desirable.