Celecoxib to decrease urinary retention associated with prostate brachytherapy

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the effect of celecoxib in preventing urinary retention following prostate brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: Between December 1997 and November 2001, 149 patients underwent a prostate implant. Medical records were reviewed to identify those who had acute urinary retention after the procedure. Urinary retention was scored based on replacement of the urinary catheter and the number of calls to the clinic and/or unscheduled clinic visits within 1 month after the implant. Results: The use of celecoxib was associated with a decreased need for replacement of the catheter (p = .04) and decreased number of calls to the clinic and/or unscheduled clinic visits (p = .002). No patient who was given celecoxib for 1 week before brachytherapy required a urinary catheter compared to 14 (of 120) who did not receive celecoxib. Conclusions: The use of celecoxib appears to result in decreased urinary retention following prostate brachytherapy.