Intermittent catheterisation versus percutaneous suprapubic cystostomy in the early management of traumatic spinal cord lesions

Abstract

Spinal injury patients initially treated by intermittent catheterisation (IUG) and those who received a fine-bore suprapubic catheter (SPG) have been reviewed. The results show that fine-bore suprapubic catheterisation seems to be superior to intermittent catheterisation because the rate of urinary tract infections is significantly lower in the SPG-group (50%) than in the IUG-patients (71, 9%), and the first infecting organisms in the SPG-group differ from those in the IUG-group and are much more easily treated by antibiotic therapy. © 1988 International Medical Society of Paraplegia.