"I'm Not Going Home With a Catheter": Patient-Perceived Outcomes Associated With Perioperative Intermittent Catheterization.

Indwelling catheters are a known source of dissatisfaction for postoperative patients. There is a paucity of data describing patient-perceived outcomes associated with the alternative of intermittent self-catheterization (ISC).

The aim of this study was to describe patient satisfaction and outcomes associated with ISC after outpatient female pelvic reconstructive surgery.

This was a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study at an academic tertiary referral center from September 2018 to June 2021. Participants completed preoperative ISC instruction that included an instructional video, 1:1 demonstration with a health care provider, and provision of ISC supplies. Participants were instructed to perform ISC postoperatively until they had 2 consecutive outpatient PVRs less than one-half the voided volume. Participant satisfaction was assessed 2 weeks postprocedure, with adverse events evaluated at 6 weeks.

One hundred sixty participants completed preoperative ISC instruction and were included in this analysis. Mean age was 52.1 (SD +/- 11.4) years, mean body mass index was 28.9 (SD +/- 5.8), and mean time from ISC instruction to surgery was 16.4 (SD +/- 15.7) days. Most participants reported no difficulty with ISC (124/160 [78%]) and had high levels of satisfaction (148/151 [98%]). Difficulty performing ISC was not associated with time since ISC instruction ( P = 0.32), difficulty noted at ISC instruction by the health care provider ( P = 0.24), or the duration of ISC instruction ( P = 0.16). On multiple logistic regression, age, body mass index, and prolapse beyond the hymen did not predict difficulty learning or performing ISC. At 6 weeks postprocedure, 22 of 155 participants (14%) endorsed symptoms of a urinary tract infection, and 15 of 160 (9%) had a culture-proven urinary tract infection.

Women undergoing outpatient pelvic reconstructive surgery report ease and satisfaction with ISC.

Urogynecology (Hagerstown, Md.). 2022 Aug 26 [Epub]

Julia K Shinnick, Christina A Raker, Elizabeth J Geller, Charles R Rardin, Anne C Cooper

From the Divisions of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery., Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Teaching Affiliate of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI., Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC., Division of Urogynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth, NH.