Caesarean Section Without Using Bladder Catheterization Is Safe in Uncomplicated Patients

Abstract

A case – control study was carried out to assess whether carrying out caesarean section without urethral catheterization is safe in terms of intraoperative safety, prevalence of UTI, and the rate of the first voiding discomfort. It was conducted At Al Thawra General Hospital over a period of eight months (From Feb 1st to Sep 30th 2015). One hundred women who admitted to delivery unit and delivered by cesarean section were enrolled in the study. They were divided randomly into study group (non catheterized, n = 50) and control group (catheterized, n = 50). There were no significant differences between the study and control group regarding maternal age, parity and the indications for cesarean section. Of the study group, only one women developed bladder distension at the end of surgery. First voiding discomfort was detected among 86% of the control group vs. 50% of the study cases (P < 0.05). The mean time till ambulation was 8.2 ± 2.1 h for the study group compared to 14.1 ± 2.9 h for the control group (P < 0.001). Urinary tract infection was significantly higher among the control group (28%) vs (8%) of the study cases (P= 0.009). This study showed that nonuse of urinary catheter during cesarean section is associated with significantly low rate of UTI, less first voiding discomfort and early ambulation. Therefore, urinary catheter can be avoided safely in hemodynamecally stable patients.