Milky White Urine After Relief of Urinary Retention
Publication Date
2020
Journal Title
J Emerg Med
Abstract
© 2020 The Authors Background: Chyluria is a rare condition where chyle is excreted into the urine. Clinically, most patients manifest with intermittent passage of milky urine. Patients may also present with dysuria, urinary frequency, urgency, retention, or with the sequelae of chronic malnutrition. Case Report: We present a 55-year-old African American man who presented to the emergency department complaining of milky white urine, dysuria, decreased urine output, and suprapubic abdominal pain once a day. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?: Patients may present to the emergency department complaining of milk-colored urine, hematuria, urinary retention, or the sequelae of malnutrition. Initial evaluations should include laboratory investigations of common causes of chyluria and the severity of the potential malnutrition. If the patient presents with urinary retention, after relieving the obstruction in the emergency department, assessment for clot/chyle burden and likelihood of recurrence of urinary retention should be performed by urology. Arrangements for proper outpatient follow-up should be made if the disease manifestations are not severe enough to warrant admission.
Volume Number
58
Issue Number
3
Pages
e149 - e152
Document Type
Article
Status
Faculty, Northwell Researcher
Facility
School of Medicine; Northwell Health
Primary Department
Emergency Medicine
PMID
DOI
10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.12.028