Catheter burden following urogynecologic surgery

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology
• Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery
• Postoperative Care

Background:

• Limited data exists on women's experiences with postoperative catheterization after urogynecologic surgery.
• Assessing the burden of postoperative catheterization is increasingly important for patient-centered care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the catheter burden in women who self-selected indwelling Foley catheter use versus clean intermittent self-catheterization for managing voiding dysfunction post-pelvic reconstructive surgery.

Main Methods:

• A nested study within a randomized controlled trial involving women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence surgery.
• Participants not passing their voiding trial were discharged with either an indwelling Foley catheter or self-catheterization based on preference.
• Catheter burden was assessed using the Short-Term Catheter Burden Questionnaire, measuring difficulty and embarrassment.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in total catheter burden, difficulty of use, or embarrassment between the indwelling Foley catheter and self-catheterization groups.
• Urinary tract infection rates were similar between groups (23% vs 30%).
• Women with indwelling catheters had more clinic visits, while those with self-catheterization had more phone calls.

Conclusions:

• Indwelling Foley catheterization and clean intermittent self-catheterization present similar catheter burden, difficulty, and embarrassment for women post-pelvic reconstructive surgery.
• Both methods demonstrate comparable urinary tract infection rates.
• Patient preference may guide the choice of catheterization method without significantly impacting patient-reported outcomes.