Sudden inability to urinate is medically referred to as acute urinary retention, and the fastest and most effective treatment is catheterization. Acute urinary retention is a clinical syndrome in which urine is trapped in the bladder due to a sudden inability to urinate for various reasons. It often starts suddenly and is accompanied by a pronounced urge to urinate and severe pain. The most direct and effective solution for acute urinary retention is catheterization. Catheterization is extremely effective in treating acute urinary retention. A catheter can be left in place if urinary retention is prolonged or if too much urine has been expelled and urinary function cannot be restored immediately. In addition to this, if the catheter is difficult to insert, suprapubic cystostomy can be performed as an option for treatment. Acute urinary retention should find the cause after solving the problem of urine drainage, and choose the appropriate treatment according to different causes.