Is urography necessary for patients with acute retention of urine before prostatectomy?

In 180 urograms performed on 203 patients admitted to hospital with acute or acute-on-chronic retention of urine 38 abnormalities were noted, most of them being related to upper tract obstruction. Of 4 diverticula detected only one needed treatment. Waiting for the urogram imposed an extra delay of more than 3 days between admission and operation and an equal prolongation of the whole hospital stay. There appears to be no justification for routine urography prior to prostatectomy in the patient admitted with urinary retention.