title: Bladder Management With Epidural Anesthesia During Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many labor nurses routinely include continuous urinary catheterization (CC) as part of their standard care for women who receive intrapartum epidural anesthesia, to prevent urinary retention, thought to delay fetal descent. Recent studies question use of CCs during labor, as they may predispose patients to urinary tract infections (UTIs), even though the catheters are in place for a relatively short period of time. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of CCs versus intermittent catheters (ICs) (only as needed) on the duration of second stage of labor and the incidence of postpartum UTIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial. English-speaking low-risk nulliparous women ≥37 weeks gestation with a single fetus in a vertex presentation who requested an epidural were eligible for participation. Prior to epidural placement, cervical status was documented, women were encouraged to void, and then women were randomized to receive either CC or IC as the method for urinary bladder management for the duration of the first stage of labor. Final sample size included 123 participants; 55 in the CC group and 68 in the IC group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were noted in length of second stage labor, and the overall incidence of UTIs in both groups was low. There was a significantly increased likelihood of cesarean birth in women who had CC (P < .01) when compared to women who had IC. The overall cesarean rate in the CC group was 27.3%, versus 10.3% in the IC group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intermittent catheterization only as needed appears to be best practice for bladder management for laboring women with an epidural. There was a significantly higher rate of cesarean birth among women in the CC group. The relationship between route of birth and use of continuous indwelling urinary catheters for women in labor with epidurals for pain relief needs more study.
authors: Barbara L. Wilson is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Academics, College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. She can be reached via e-mail at barbara.wilson@nurs.utah.edu Tammy Passante is a Perinatal Safety Coordinator and Clinical Supervisor, Labor and Delivery, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Gilbert, AZ. Diane Rauschenbach is a Maternal Child Health Couplet Care RN, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, Gilbert, AZ. Rumei Yang is a PhD Student, College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. Bob Wong is an Associate Professor and Director of Applied Statistics, College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.
authors: Barbara L
authors: BL
authors: Wilson
authors: Tammy
authors: T
authors: Passante
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Rauschenbach
authors: Rumei
authors: R
authors: Yang
authors: Bob
authors: B
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007748:Labor Stage, Second; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult