Postpartum urinary retention is a relatively common condition that can have a marked impact on women in the immediate days following childbirth. If left untreated, postpartum urinary retention can lead to repetitive overdistention injury that may damage the detrusor muscle and the parasympathetic nerve fibers within the bladder wall. In rare circumstances, postpartum urinary retention may even lead to bladder rupture, which is a potentially life-threatening yet entirely preventable complication. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are necessary to decrease long-term consequences. There are 3 types of postpartum urinary retention: overt, covert, and persistent. Overt retention is associated with an inability to void, whereas covert retention is associated with incomplete bladder emptying. Persistent urinary retention continues beyond the third postpartum day and can persist for several weeks in rare cases. Recognition of risk factors and prompt diagnosis are important for proper management and prevention of negative sequelae. However, lack of knowledge by providers and patients alike creates barriers to accessing and receiving evidence-based care, and may further delay diagnosis for patients, especially those who experience covert postpartum urinary retention. Nationally accepted definitions and management algorithms for postpartum urinary retention are lacking, and development of such guidelines is essential for both patient care and research design. We propose intrapartum recommendations and a standardized postpartum bladder management protocol that will improve patient outcomes and contribute to the growing body of evidence-based practice in this field.

产后尿潴留是一种相对常见的疾病，在分娩后的几天内会对女性产生显着影响。如果不及时治疗，产后尿潴留会导致重复性过度膨胀损伤，这可能会损害膀胱壁内的逼尿肌和副交感神经纤维。在极少数情况下，产后尿潴留甚至可能导致膀胱破裂，这是一种可能危及生命但完全可以预防的并发症。早期诊断和及时干预对于减少长期后果是必要的。产后尿潴留有 3 种类型：显性、隐性和持续性。明显的滞留与无法排尿有关，而隐蔽的滞留与膀胱排空不全有关。持续性尿潴留会持续超过产后第三天，并且在极少数情况下会持续数周。识别危险因素和及时诊断对于正确管理和预防阴性后遗症很重要。然而，提供者和患者都缺乏相关知识，这对获得和接受循证护理造成了障碍，并可能进一步延迟对患者的诊断，尤其是那些经历过隐性产后尿潴留的患者。缺乏产后尿潴留的全国公认定义和管理算法，制定此类指南对于患者护理和研究设计都至关重要。