Rev Bras Oftalmol.2025;84:e0078
Acute urinary retention during cataract surgery
DOI: 10.37039/1982.8551.20250078
ABSTRACT
We present a case of a 66-year-old male patient with primary angle closure glaucoma who underwent cataract surgery. He was also under tamsulosin treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia. Due to high intraocular pressure and shallow anterior chamber, 150 mL of 20% mannitol was given intravenously, before phacoemulcification cataract surgery. The iris prolapsed from the main incision and the pupil constricted, right after the main incision was opened and the pupil shrank. An additional 150 mL of 20% mannitol was given intravenously, to reduce the high vitreous pressure. Acute urinary retention induced by mannitol infusion developed during the surgery. The surgery had to be interrupted while the floppy iris was prolapsed from the corneal incision. A foley catheter was inserted and the patient was relieved. This case reminds us to also keep acute urinary retention in mind, in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia, especially if intravenously infusions of mannitol or even other fluids are planning to be given during surgery.