At Home Early vs. Delayed Catheter Removal Following Failed Postoperative Voiding Trial: a Randomized Trial

Studies estimate the rate of post-operative urinary retention (POUR) after pelvic reconstructive surgery to be between 2.5-43% in all patients1. Consequently, patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery will commonly undergo an assessment of voiding function prior to discharge. Patients who do not successfully complete a voiding trial (VT) are typically discharged from the hospital with a transurethral indwelling catheter. The preferred length of time the catheter remains in place postoperatively, however, varies widely (1 to 7 days) amongst pelvic reconstructive surgeons2-4.

Over the past few years, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been adopted for patients undergoing reconstructive vaginal and minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) surgery with increased focus on patient centered outcomes5. The benefits of ERAS in pelvic reconstructive surgery often allow for patients to be discharged home from the hospital the same day of their surgery. Unfortunately, same day discharge is associated with higher rates of postoperative voiding dysfunction and subsequent discharge home with a urinary catheter, with an incidence reported as high as 33.9-36%2,6. This increased rate of postoperative urinary retention has been reflected in our patient population. Prior to the implementation of ERAS in our pelvic reconstructive surgery division at Atrium Health, the rate of discharge home with a urinary catheter after failed VT on postoperative day (POD) 1 was 28%. With the implementation of an ERAS protocol and same day discharge (POD 0), the rate climbed to 43%7. Consequently, a higher percentage of postoperative patients have required a second VT prior to catheter discontinuation. This has necessitated additional clinical visits with a nurse or other provider, further stretching our clinical staff and obligating patients to make an additional trip to the clinic for a repeat postoperative VT.

Recent evidence supports the safety and improved patient experience in patients who self-discontinue a transurethral urinary catheter. In the study by Shatkin-Margolis et al., patients who had undergone pelvic reconstructive surgery were randomized to either self- discontinuation or in office discontinuation overseen by medical personnel one week after surgery8. This study found that self-discontinuation of transurethral catheter was non-inferior to office-based discontinuation following pelvic reconstructive surgery. Additionally, the authors found that self-discontinuation resulted in fewer patient encounters and improved patient experience.

Given this supportive evidence of safe catheter self-discontinuation and our practice's desire to improve patient satisfaction while decreasing clinical burden, we have adopted a practice where the patient self-removes their urinary catheter on the same day that a typical in-office VT would occur (POD 3). During preoperative counseling visits, our patients receive structured handouts with pictorial and descriptive language explaining how to safely self-remove a transurethral catheter (Figure 1). If VT failure should occur, the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) nursing staff review the instructions once again with the patient and the patient's support person(s) prior to discharge. Patients are told to call the office with any symptoms or concerns. Additionally, a nurse from our practice follows up with the patient via telephone on POD 1.

Patient experience following surgery is an important patient centered outcome. Unfortunately, being discharged home with an indwelling transurethral catheter for any amount of time is often perceived by patients as a postoperative complication and is a source of dissatisfaction in patients undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery9-10. Therefore, decreasing the dissatisfaction surrounding postoperative catheter use improves the patient experience. Several studies have evaluated early postoperative catheter discontinuation after pelvic reconstructive surgery in an effort to limit the length of time that a catheter is in place. In a randomized controlled trial of immediate versus POD1 catheter removal in patients undergoing minimally invasive pelvic reconstructive surgery by Vallabh-Patel et al. the rate of POUR on POD 0 was 31%; however, the rate on POD 1 was 4.5%2. Similar low rates of POUR were noted in a prospective cohort trial performed by Botros et al. which evaluated the effects of a mid-urethral sling at the time of robotic sacrocolpopexy and noted a POD 1 retention rate of 1% in this patient population11. Finally, in a retrospective cohort study incorporating both laparoscopic and vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgery performed by El Hiraki et al., the rate of failed VT within 23 hours of surgery was 11.1% for minimally invasive group and 34% for the vaginal surgery group12. This limited body of evidence suggests that a voiding trial as early as postoperative day 1 seems to yield a voiding trial pass rate of 1-34% in pelvic reconstructive surgery patients.