Intermittent catheterisation: follow-up studies [proceedings]

One hundred twenty-six male spinal cord injury patients whose acute bladder management included indwelling urethral catheters were converted to an intermittent catheterisation programme and most of them subsequently achieved a catheter-free state. A higher prevalence of pyelocaliectasis was observed in these patients compared to previous reports of similar changes in patients upon whom intermittent catheterisation was initiated immediately after injury. Right side predominance of pyelocaliectasis was demonstrated but requires further study. The extent of neurological deficit (complete or incomplete lesions) does not appear to influence the development of pyelocaliectasis. These findings support our contention that intensive urological follow-up is necessary for all spinal cord injury patients even though a catheter-free state has been achieved through use of intermittent catheterisation.