Effectiveness of sensory stimulation in producing voiding in hemorrhoidectomy patients with postoperative urinary retention

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of icing and brushing in producing voiding in hemorrhoidectomy patients with patients with postoperative urinary retention thus reducing the need for catheterization. It was hypothesized that (1) voiding can be induced by icing and brushing in a substantial number of hemorrhoidectomy patients with postoperative urinary retention and (2) spontaneous voiding will occur less frequently in hemorrhoidectomy patients who are not iced and brushed to relieve urinary retention. The sample consisted of 24 male and female patients between the ages of 18 and 65 who were alternately placed into a control and experimental group. Neither of the hypotheses was supported by the findings of this study. Only 4 out of 12 patients in the experimental group voided in response to the quick application of ice. One patient out of 12 in the control group voided spontaneously. Although there was no significant difference between the control and the experimental group as far as voiding was concerned, the data suggested that two uncontrolled variables, postoperative pain medication and the continuous application of external heat to the perineal area, may have affected the outcome and warrant further investigation.