Management of Lower Urinary Retention at the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital Center

Introduction: Lower urinary retention is one of the most common urological emergencies in the hospital setting, primarily affecting elderly men and most often related to prostatic pathologies. This study aimed to describe the therapeutic modalities and outcomes of lower urinary retention managed at the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital Center (CHU-YO). Methodology: This was a prospective, descriptive, longitudinal study conducted from August 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, in the urological emergency department of CHU-YO. All patients admitted for urinary retention were included, except those already catheterized or non-consenting. Epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic data were collected via Kobo Toolbox and analyzed with SPSS 20. Results: Out of 333 urological emergencies, 198 cases of urinary retention were identified (59.46%). After exclusions, 181 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 65.8 years, with a marked male predominance (92.8%). Retention was complete in 87.3% of cases and of sudden onset in 91.2%. Prostatic pathologies were the main etiology in men, followed by urethral strictures. Obstructive renal failure was present in 34.8% of patients prior to drainage. Transurethral bladder catheterization was the primary drainage method, with a failure rate of 10.9%. Post-drainage complications were dominated by decompression hematuria (5.0%) and post-obstructive diuresis syndrome (4.4%). The mean hospital stay was 3.7 days. Conclusion: Lower urinary retention remains a frequent emergency at CHU-YO, primarily affecting elderly men and dominated by prostatic pathologies. Late diagnosis exposes patients to a high risk of renal complications, underscoring the need for early screening of voiding disorders and strengthening of management capacities at the peripheral level.