Omitting perioperative urinary catheterization in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a single-institution experience

In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Guidelines for the Prevention of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections, which limited the indications for perioperative urinary catheter use. We conducted this study to evaluate the safety of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) without urinary catheter placement and to investigate whether it reduces the incidence of urinary complications.

Of 244 patients who underwent elective LC between March, 2010 and April 2011, 192 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria and underwent surgery without urinary catheterization (non-catheterized group). We compared the clinical features and surgical outcomes of the non-catheterized group with those of an historical control of 90 patients who underwent LC with routine urinary catheterization.

The operating times were similar in the two groups and there was no case of conversion to open surgery. The postoperative hospital stay was slightly shorter and the incidence of urinary complications was significantly lower in the non-catheterized group. Three patients in the non-catheterized group suffered urinary retention, which resolved after temporary catheterization.

Our study demonstrated that elective LC without urinary catheter placement is feasible for most patients and might reduce the incidence of perioperative urinary complications.