Voiding Dysfunction or Urinary Retention Following Pelvic Floor Reconstruction

Voiding dysfunction is a known complication following pelvic floor reconstruction and can result in a challenging clinical scenario. Meticulous surgical technique and early recognition of voiding problems after surgery are paramount to avoiding long-term sequelae of voiding dysfunction or, in the extreme, urinary retention. While most cases of urinary retention after prolapse repair are transient, some will require surgical intervention. There is no definitive test to distinguish between the two scenarios, but rather the surgeon will use the combination of careful history and physical examination, cystoscopy, and urodynamic studies to guide clinical decision-making. Here, we present a case of urinary retention after prolapse repair (without a concomitant anti-incontinence procedure), which ultimately required transvaginal urethrolysis to resolve.