[Intravesical prostaglandin E2 and placebo in urinary retention after gynaecological surgery (author's transl)].

In a randomized single blind trial we studied the effectiveness of intravesical prostaglandin E2 in the treatment of postoperative urinary retention after vaginal hysterectomy with colposuspension. One group of patients (n = 8) received 1.5 mg prostaglandin E2 in 50 ml 0.9% NaCl on the 9th postoperative day (72 hours after removal of the Foley catheter) and 50 ml NaCl without prostaglandin E2 on the following day. In the second group (n = 12) NaCl was instilled on the first day of treatment and prostaglandin E2 on the following day. Four hours after the instillation of prostaglandin E2 5 out of 8 women were able to void spontaneously, while after the instillation of NaCl spontaneous micturition occurred in only 2 out of 12 women (p less than 0.05). In both groups the average time period until patients were free of residual urine was 4 days after the initiation of therapy. Compared to placebo intravesical prostaglandin E2 is significantly more effective in achieving spontaneous voiding after gynaecological surgery.