Effect of Tizanidine on Postoperative Urinary Retention After Sacrospinous Suspension

Postoperative urinary retention has been defined as the inability to void despite having fluid in the bladder during the postoperative period. Urinary retention after pelvic reconstructive surgery requiring indwelling catheter or self-catheterization usage occurs in approximately 30-60% of patients postoperatively. Our prior retrospective chart review reviewing postoperative urinary retention rates after pelvic reconstructive surgery demonstrated postoperative urinary retention after a sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension to be approximately 78.9%. Many women consider being discharged home with a Foley catheter to be a surgical complication and describe catheter use as the worst aspect of their surgery. Indwelling catheters are the leading cause of hospital-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs), are often a source of embarrassment and inconvenience for patients, and often require additional office visits and healthcare utilization. Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant which can work to alleviate this spasm and, theoretically, prevent postoperative urinary retention. Tizanidine also works as an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker which can increase smooth muscle relaxation around the urethra specifically and, theoretically, improve urine flow. Postoperative urinary retention is extremely common after pelvic reconstructive surgery involving a sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension and is extremely bothersome to patients. Tizanidine is a low-risk, well tolerated, cost-effective medication. No study to date has evaluated preoperative administration of tizanidine for postoperative urinary retention.