The impact of urinary bladder catheterisation after ureterorenoscopic stone removal on the postoperative course

The most frequent reason for ureterorenoscopy is the necessity to remove calculi from the ureter and/or kidney. After completing this procedure the Foley catheter is inserted in the bladder. The aim of the study is to show whether catheterisation of the bladder after ureterorenoscopic stone removal in patients with a low-risk of complications is necessary and indicated.

This is a comparative, prospective and randomized study. 100 patients meeting the assumed criteria, subjected to the ureterorenoscopy due to ureter and/or kidney stones participated in the study. The patients were divided into the experimental (Group I) and control (Group II) groups. Group I did not have a catheter, Group II was catheterised. There were two subgroups: female and male in each group. Mean values of the following parameters were calculated: intensity of postoperative pain measured by Visual Analog Pain Scale, the number of additional doses of painkillers administered after the procedure, hospital stay, occurrence of fever, significant bacteriuria, acute urinary retention and post- void retention greater than 30 ml.

Intensity of pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale was higher in Group II. Catheterisation does not influence: the number of additional doses of ketoprofen and pethidine administered during the 1^st day after the operation, the duration of hospitalization, the occurrence of fever, significant bacteriuria, the postoperative acute urinary retention and the post-void residual urine volume.

In patients with a low risk of postoperative complications who did not have any intraoperative complications, catheterisation of the urinary bladder increases discomfort without bringing any benefits.