Post-operative Urinary Retention (POUR) Following Thoracic Surgery

Description

Post-operative urinary retention (POUR) in older men who undergo a thoracic surgical procedure occurs in a significant proportion of patients (25% at Hackensack University Medical Center in men >60) and is a significant management problem. Typically, this complication needs to be treated with placement of a bladder catheter (foley). In addition to the discomfort of placing a foley in an awake patient, these patients are at a significantly increased risk of a catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), potential genito-urinary injury during the placement, and bladder muscle damage due to distention.

The goal of this study is to investigate whether the use of Tamusolin could lower the high incidence of POUR in older men undergoing a thoracic surgical procedure.

The investigators hypothesize that pre-operative administration of Tamusolin (Flomax, 0.4mg/day x 1 week), with ongoing use post-operatively until normal voiding resumes, will result in a significant decrease in the incidence of POUR after a thoracic surgical procedure.