title: A prospective randomized clinical trial comparing immediate versus delayed removal of urinary catheter following elective cesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare immediate and 12h postoperative removal of urinary catheter after elective cesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective clinical trial at a university teaching hospital, 300 eligible women admitted for primary or repeat elective cesarean section were randomized into two equal groups. In group A, the catheter was removed immediately after the procedure; whereas in group B, the catheter was removed 12h postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of postoperative significant bacteruria (p=0.020), dysuria (p=0.030), burning on micturition (p=0.016), urinary frequency (p=0.031), and urgency (p=0.011) were significantly lower in group A compared with group B. The mean postoperative ambulation time (p<0.001), time till the first voiding (p<0.001), and length of hospital stay (p<0.001) were also significantly shorter in group A. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of urinary retention necessitating recatheterization (p=0.371).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate removal of urinary catheter after elective cesarean section is associated with lower risk of urinary infection and earlier postoperative ambulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Electronic address: dr_akmalelmazny@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Akmal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Mazny
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Sharkawy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D020878:Device Removal; D053159:Dysuria / Q000209:etiology; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D062885:Urinary Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cesarean section; Urinary catheter; Urinary infection