Document Detail


Acute urinary retention among astronauts.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17511293     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Although acute urinary retention (AUR) is not commonly thought of as a life-threatening condition, its presentation in orbit can lead to a number of medical complications that could compromise a space mission. We report on a middle-aged astronaut who developed urinary retention during two spaceflights. On the first mission of note, the astronaut initially took standard doses of promethazine and scopolamine before launch, and developed AUR immediately after entering orbit. For the first 3 d, the astronaut underwent intermittent catheterizations with a single balloon-tipped catheter. Due to the lack of iodine solution on board and the need for the astronaut to complete certain duties without interruption, the catheter was left in place for a total of 4 d. Although the ability to void returned after day 7, a bout of AUR reemerged on day 10, 1 d before landing. On return to Earth, a cystometrogram was unremarkable. During the astronaut's next mission, AUR again recurred for the first 24 h of microgravity exposure, and the astronaut was subsequently able to void spontaneously while in space. This report details the presentation of this astronaut, the precautions that were taken for space travel subsequent to the initial episode of AUR, and the possible reasons why space travel can predispose astronauts to urinary retention while in orbit. The four major causes of AUR--obstructive, pharmacologic, psychogenic, and neurogenic-are discussed, with an emphasis on how these may have played a role in this case.
Authors:
Philip C Stepaniak; Suneil R Ramchandani; Jeffrey A Jones
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Aviation, space, and environmental medicine     Volume:  78     ISSN:  0095-6562     ISO Abbreviation:  Aviat Space Environ Med     Publication Date:  2007 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-05-21     Completed Date:  2007-06-14     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7501714     Medline TA:  Aviat Space Environ Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  A5-8     Citation Subset:  IM; S    
Affiliation:
NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA. philip.stepaniak-1@nasa.gov
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acute Disease
Adult
Aerospace Medicine*
Astronauts*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Promethazine / therapeutic use
Risk Factors
Space Flight*
United States
Urinary Retention / drug therapy*,  etiology,  therapy
Weightlessness / adverse effects*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
60-87-7/Promethazine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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