[Acute urinary retention in young adult and middle-aged males due to calculi in the urethra: a single centre experience from North India].

OBJECTIVE To present our experience of managing acute urinary retention (AUR) in young and middle-aged male due to stone/s in the urethra at a tertiary care centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between July 2004 to April 2011, 102 male patients, young and middle-aged (18-40 years), who suffered from AUR due to calculus in the urethra were managed at our center. Initial management consisted of urethral catheterization or suprapubic trocar cystostomy. Definitive management was performed immediately or after a couple of days depending upon the availability of anesthesia and/or operation theatre. Stone was fragmented by mechanical lithotrite, pneumatic lithotrite or holmium:YAG laser. RESULTS All the patients were completely free of their stone/s following the definitive procedure. Voiding trial was successful in all the cases. Postoperative urinary tract infection was observed in eight patients who had undergone immediate endoscopic management. Mild hematuria for approximately 48 hours was noted in six patients who underwent suprapubic cystolithotripsy. CONCLUSION Endoscopic management is currently the treatment of choice for stone/s in the urethra which may cause AUR in young and middle-aged male.