Based on current literature, evidence stating that PUR is harmless is lacking. Future research should focus on management strategies for overt PUR and the long-term consequences of covert PUR. Until these results are available, clinicians should be aware of the potential consequences and therefore keep trying to identify patients at risk of PUR and patients with the actual condition.

Background Postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is a common condition with varying prevalence. Measurement of the post-void residual volume (PVRV) is not regularly performed. Various studies have been published on overt (the inability to void after giving birth, requiring catheterisation) and covert (an increased PVRV after spontaneous micturition) PUR. To evaluate which clinical prognostic factors are related to PUR, the identification of independent risk factors for covert and overt PUR is needed.Objectives We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting on risk factors for PUR.Search strategy Systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE to September 2011.Selection criteria Articles that reported on women diagnosed with PUR or with an abnormal PVRV.Data collection and analysis The included articles were selected by two authors. We constructed two-by-two tables for potential risk factors of overt and covert PUR and calculated pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals.Main results Twenty-three observational studies with original data were eligible for data extraction, of which 13 could be used for meta-analysis. Statistically significant risk factors for overt PUR were epidural analgesia (OR 7.7), instrumental delivery (OR 4.5), episiotomy (OR 4.8) and primiparity (OR 2.4). For covert PUR, variety in the definitions used resulted in heterogeneity; no significant prognostic factors were found.Conclusions Instrumental delivery, epidural analgesia, episiotomy and nulliparity are statistically significantly associated with a higher incidence of overt PUR. The same factors were identified for covert PUR, but without statistical significance. Uniformity in definitions in future research is essential to create a prognostic model.

Objectives The combination of prolapse surgery with an incontinence procedure can reduce the incidence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after surgery, but may increase adverse events. We compared the effectiveness and safety of prolapse surgery versus combined prolapse and incontinence surgery in women with pelvic organ prolapse.Design and setting Pubmed, EMBASE, DARE, the Cochrane Library and the register of Current Controlled Trials were searched for randomised trials (restricted to Burch colposuspension and midurethral sling as incontinence procedure) from 1995 to 2013 limited to the English literature.Methods Two reviewers selected eligible articles and extracted the data. Pooling for SUI was based on three patient groups: (1) women with coexisting SUI; (2) women asymptomatic for SUI; and (3) women with occult SUI. For adverse events, pooling was based on incontinence procedure.Main outcome measures The primary outcome was SUI. The secondary outcomes were treatment for SUI, bladder storage symptoms, obstructive voiding and adverse events.Results Seven trials were included. Pooling for women with coexisting SUI was possible for objective SUI with two studies and showed no difference. Statistical (I 2 = 95%) and clinical heterogeneity was, however, high. The largest study showed a lower incidence of persisting SUI (5% versus 23%) and treatment for this (0% versus 57%) in women who underwent prolapse repair with a midurethral sling. The second study did not find a difference in women undergoing a sacrocolpopexy with or without Burch colposuspension. In asymptomatic women, combination surgery resulted in a lower incidence of de novo subjective SUI (two studies; 24% versus 41%; relative risk [RR], 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.9; I 2 = 36%) and the need for subsequent anti-incontinence surgery (three studies; 2% versus 7%; RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.8; I 2 = 13%). For the outcome objective SUI, pooling was possible for five studies, but statistical heterogeneity was high (I 2 = 82%) and the difference was not statistically significant. In the subgroup of women with occult stress incontinence, we found a lower incidence of objective SUI after combination surgery (two studies; 22% versus 52%; RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8; I 2 = 32%). There were no differences in bladder storage symptoms, urgency incontinence or long-term obstructive voiding symptoms. Adverse events (two studies; 15% versus 10%; RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.5; I 2 = 0%) and prolonged catheterisation (three studies; 6% versus 1%; RR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.5-13.3; I 2 = 0%)were more frequent after vaginal prolapse repair with a midurethral sling.Conclusions Combination surgery reduces the risk of postoperative stress incontinence, but short-term voiding difficulties and adverse events were more frequent after combination surgery with a midurethral sling.Keywords Burch colposuspension, meta-analysis, midurethral sling, pelvic organ prolapse, review, stress urinary incontinence.Please cite this paper as: van der Ploeg JM, van der Steen A, Oude Rengerink K, va...

Objective To compare clean intermittent catheterisation with transurethral indwelling catheterisation for the treatment of abnormal post-void residual bladder volume (PVR) following vaginal prolapse surgery.Design Multicentre randomised controlled trial.Setting Five teaching hospitals and one non-teaching hospital in the Netherlands.Population All patients older than 18 years experiencing abnormal PVR following vaginal prolapse surgery, with or without the use of mesh. Exclusion criteria were: any neurological or anxiety disorder, or the need for combined anti-incontinence surgery.Methods All patients were given an indwelling catheter directly after surgery, which was removed on the first postoperative day. Patients with a PVR of more than 150 ml after their first void were randomised for clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC), performed by nursing staff, or for transurethral indwelling catheterisation (TIC) for 3 days.Main outcome measure Bacteriuria rate at end of treatment.Results A total of 87 patients were included in the study. Compared with the TIC group (n = 42), there was a lower risk of developing bacteriuria (14 versus 38%; P = 0.02) or urinary tract infection (UTI; 12 versus 33%; P = 0.03) in the CIC group (n = 45); moreover, a shorter period of catheterisation was required (18 hours CIC versus 72 hours TIC; P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was similar in the two groups, and no adverse events occurred.Conclusion Clean intermittent catheterisation is preferable over indwelling catheterisation for 3 days in the treatment of abnormal PVR following vaginal prolapse surgery.Keywords Catheterisation, urinary retention, vaginal prolapse surgery.Please cite this paper as: Hakvoort R, Thijs S, Bouwmeester F, Broekman A, Ruhe I, Vernooij M, Burger M, Emanuel M, Roovers J. Comparing clean intermittent catheterisation and transurethral indwelling catheterisation for incomplete voiding after vaginal prolapse surgery: a multicentre randomised trial.

The vaginal operation to correct a descensus uteri is associated with less pain, better quality of life and better mobility during the first 6 weeks of the recovery period as compared to the abdominal approach.