[A study on non-sterile intermittent self-catheterization for voiding dysfunction following radical uterine or rectal...

To determine the effectiveness of non-sterile intermittent self-catheterization, a study was made of 35 patients who had radical surgery of the carcinoma of the uterus or rectum between January, 1978 and October, 1982. These cases were divided into 2 groups; (1) early instituted group of 27 patients who used self-catheterization within 3 months following surgical intervention; (2) late instituted group of 8 patients who received drug treatment for more than 3 months after surgical treatments and then used self-catheterization. After the introduction of self-catheterization, urinary tract infection was evaluated on the basis of the incidence of pyuria defined as more than 5 white blood cells per high magnification field. In 16 of the 35 patients, the incidence of pyuria ranged from 0 to 20 per cent. Regarding prognostic results in the first group the application of self-catheterization, 6 patients had a residual urine ratio ranging from 0 to 20 per cent and were able to void at will. Uroflometry was performed in 9 patients in the first group. In 8 of these patients, UP max values increased 3 months after self-catheterization as compared with those before self-catheterization although their values were still lower than normal. Non-sterile intermittent self-catheterization can shorten the stay in hospital and enable the patient to live a catheter-free life.