Elroy Patrick Weledji and Divine Eyongeta
Autonomic dysfunction is a common complication in colorectal surgery. Approximately a third of patients undergoing anorectal surgery develop acute urinary retention. We report a case of acute urinary obstruction post lateral internal sphincterotomy for chronic anal fissure in a 61-year old man with no antecedent history of bladder outflow obstruction nor benign prostatic hyperplasia on examination. We suggest the importance of preoperative catheterization of high risk patients undergoing anorectal surgery and avoiding the insertion of haemostatic anal pack.