Planned Cesarean Delivery and Urinary Retention Associated With Spinal Morphine

Cesarean delivery (CD) is the second most commonly performed surgery in the United States. As such, prevention of complications associated with this procedure is a top priority in nursing care. Nurses at the study institution perceived that postcesarean patients experienced increased urinary retention after use of spinal morphine for postoperative pain relief. This observation prompted a review of the literature indicating that limited research had been conducted in this area. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of postelective CD urinary retention and dose of spinal morphine. A retrospective, quasi-experimental, three-group design was used. Records of 150 patients, ages 17 to 39, undergoing elective primary or repeat CD were examined. Morphine doses included 100, 150, and 200 mcg. No statistically significant differences were found between the three groups.