Early catheter removal following transurethral prostatectomy: overnight catheterization.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the safety and feasibility of catheter removal on the first morning after transurethral prostatectomy.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients who underwent transurethral prostatectomy were included in a prospective study. The decision to remove the catheters on the first morning after surgery was based on the color of the catheter effluent, absence of clots, normal vital signs and adequate urine output. Patients who voided successfully were discharged on the same day as catheter removal.


RESULTS
Catheters were removed in 43 (79.6%) patients on postoperative day 1. Of these patients 40 (93%) voided successfully, however 3 of them required recatheterization due to bleeding or urinary retention. The criteria for catheter removal were not met in 11 patients and their catheters were removed on postoperative day 2 in 2 and on postoperative day 3 in 9. The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 1.74 days for the entire group and 1.41 days for those in whom the catheter was removed on postoperative day 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Overnight catheterization after transurethral prostatectomy seems to be a feasible approach without leading to significant morbidity in selected patients.
Aslan
Güven
G
Department of Urology, Dokuz Eylül University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Celebi
Ilhan
I
Arslan
Deniz
D
Esen
A Adil
AA
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014546:Urinary Catheterization