Tag: Postoperative urinary retention

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR), the inability to urinate after surgery, is a common complication with a reported incidence ranging from 5% to 70% [1.4.1, 1.3.2]. A primary question for patients and clinicians is: **how does anesthesia affect urinary elimination?** Anesthetic agents directly interfere with the complex nerve signals controlling the bladder.

Bethanechol, first synthesized in 1935, is a well-established cholinergic agonist primarily utilized for specific bladder disorders. But what conditions does bethanechol treat? It is most often prescribed to address non-obstructive urinary retention by helping the bladder muscle contract more effectively.

Up to 100% of patients receiving an epidural can experience some degree of urinary retention. Understanding how **can an epidural affect urination** is crucial for patients and healthcare providers to manage expectations and ensure proper care.

While the worry is common, it is very rare to wet yourself under anesthesia, especially during general anesthesia. During longer surgical procedures, healthcare teams proactively manage bladder function with a urinary catheter to prevent this from occurring.