PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF INDWELLING BLADDER CATHETER DRAINAGE VERSUSNO CATHETER AFTER VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the postoperative outcomes of patients in whom indwelling bladder catheterization or no catheter was used aft er vaginal hysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred women undergoing in patient vaginal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to have an indwell ing Foley catheter for 24 hours or no catheter after the procedure. Da ta regarding postoperative morbidity were recorded, and a clean voided urine specimen for urinalysis and culture was obtained 48 hours and 2 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The study groups were similar with resp ect to demographics and surgical indications. Two patients in the cath eterized group required recatheterization after the catheters were rem oved. None of the subjects in the no-catheter group required a cathete r. There was a significantly higher incidence of fever in the catheter group. No differences were found in the incidence of positive urine c ultures between the study groups at 48 hours (8 vs 14, p = 0.227) and 2 weeks (6 vs 1, p = 0.111), respectively. CONCLUSION: Indwelling cath eterization appears unnecessary after routine vaginal hysterectomy. Ho wever, catheter placement for 24 hours does not contribute significant ly to postoperative morbidity.