UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pediatrics

Title: Urinary retention in children

Keywords: Urinary retention, formulas (PubMed Search)

Posted: 12/20/2019 by Jenny Guyther, MD (Updated: 3/28/2024)
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Urinary retention in pediatrics is defined as the inability to void for more than 12 hours in the presence of a palpable bladder or a urine volume greater than expected for age.

Maximum urine volume calculation for age:  (age in years + 2) x 30ml.

Causes of urinary retention include mechanical obstruction, infection, fecal impaction, neurological disorders, gynecological disorders and behavioral problems.

The distribution is bimodal occurring between 3 and 5 years and 10 to 13 years.

References

Nevo A, Mano R, Livne P, Sivan B and Ben-Meir.  Urinary Retention in Children. Urology 2014; 84(6):1475-1479.