Are in-dwelling catheters necessary for 24 hours after hysterectomy?
University of Colorado Health Science Center, Denver Health Medical Center, Colorado 80204, USA. tdunn@dhha.orgOBJECTIVE: In-dwelling catheters for 24 hours after operation are used routinely in gynecologic surgery. This study assesses whether the immediate removal of an in-dwelling catheter after the operation affects the rate of recatheterization, febrile morbidity, symptomatic urinary tract infections, or subjective pain assessments. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial comprised of 250 women who underwent hysterectomy and who did not require bladder suspension or strict fluid treatment. The in-dwelling catheter was removed either immediately after the operation or on the first day after the operation. The association between clinical variables and the length of catheterization were assessed by chi-squared analysis. RESULTS: Patients were assigned randomly into 2 groups, with no significant differences in the outcomes, only in the perception of pain
