How many hours should patients ideally not go without urinating to avoid complications?

Patients should ideally not go without urinating for more than 6 hours to avoid complications. This timeframe is important because prolonged urinary retention can lead to several issues, including urinary tract infections, bladder distension, and potential damage to the bladder muscles.

In a perioperative setting, monitoring urinary output is crucial as it can be an indicator of a patient’s fluid status and kidney function. If a patient does not urinate within this expected period, it may signify complications such as urinary retention or acute kidney injury, necessitating prompt evaluation and intervention by the healthcare team. Therefore, the 6-hour guideline is a standard benchmark that emphasizes the need for regular monitoring and encourages timely actions to prevent complications related to urinary retention.