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Should patients be shaved prior to transurethral surgery?
British Journal of Urology
|April 1, 1978
Summary
Routine pubic shaving before transurethral surgery does not significantly reduce urinary tract infections. Abolishing this practice may offer financial and aesthetic benefits.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Surgical Procedures
- Infection Control
Background:
- Preoperative pubic shaving is a common practice before transurethral surgery.
- The rationale for this policy often includes preventing surgical site infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) between patients undergoing transurethral surgery with and without routine pubic shaving.
Main Methods:
- A prospective randomized trial was conducted.
- Participants were assigned to either routine pubic shaving or no pubic shave prior to surgery.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference in the rate of urinary tract infections was observed between the two groups.
- This suggests that pubic shaving does not impact UTI rates in this context.
Conclusions:
- Routine pubic shaving prior to transurethral surgery is not associated with a reduction in urinary tract infections.
- Financial and aesthetic considerations support reconsidering and potentially abolishing this traditional surgical policy.