Patients undergoing general anesthesia are often inserted with catheter before surgery to prevent urinary retention against bladder damage. However, the catheter as a foreign body may result in discomfort during recovery from anesthesia, which are characterized in catheter‑related bladder discomfort (CRBD), including pain above the pubic bone, urethra burning sensation, and impulse to urinate. CRBD may induce agitation during general anesthesia and lead to increased postoperative complications. This paper reviews the pathogenesis, classification and prognosis of CRBD, and introduces several methods of nerve blocks to prevent CRBD at home and abroad in recent years, so as to provide reference for anesthesiologists.