Urinary dysfunction in acute brain injury: A narrative review

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2020 Feb:189:105614. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2019.105614. Epub 2019 Nov 16.

Abstract

The frontal lobe urinary control center is an important regulator of urinary function. Neurologic injury often causes damage or temporary dysfunction of this center and other related urinary control pathways. Little has been reported about this topic in the literature although a majority of neurologic injury patients suffer from some type of urinary dysfunction. In this review, we highlight what is known about urinary dysfunction based on injury type (traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, and epilepsy). We discuss both clinical and pre-clinical data and pinpoint areas warranting further investigation. In the final section, we provide proposed practice suggestions for managing these patients clinically with the intended goal for refinement in these approaches following further clinical trials.

Keywords: Brain injury; Frontal control center; Treatment approaches; Urologic dysfunction.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / complications
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / physiopathology*
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology*
  • Hematoma, Subdural / complications
  • Hematoma, Subdural / physiopathology*
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke / complications
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke / complications
  • Ischemic Stroke / physiopathology
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / physiopathology*
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / complications
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / physiopathology*
  • Urinary Incontinence / etiology
  • Urinary Incontinence / physiopathology
  • Urinary Retention / etiology
  • Urinary Retention / physiopathology
  • Urination Disorders / etiology
  • Urination Disorders / physiopathology*