[Urethral strictures after extracorporeal bypass: suprapubic or transurethral catheter?]

Patients undergoing open heart surgery with the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) are at increased risk of developing a urethral stricture. Possible etiologic factors are ischemia and local pressure of an indwelling catheter during ECC. In a retrospective analysis, we compared 152 patients who have been treated with an indwelling urethral catheter during ECC with 148 patients who have been treated with suprapubic urinary drainage. 10 (6.6%) of the patients in the indwelling catheter group developed a urethral stricture as compared to none in the suprapubic group. It is concluded that the risk of developing a urethral stricture following operation with the use of ECC is significantly reduced with a suprapubic urinary drainage.