Is it necessary to remove foleys catheter late after transurethral prostatectomy in patients who presented with acute urinary retention secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Objective: To assess the influence of early versus late removal of catheter after Transurethral Prostatectomy (TURP) in patients who presented with Acute Urinary Retention (AUR), at our centre.

Methods: The records were reviewed of patients presenting to the Emergency Room (ER) or out patient department (OPD) with AUR, after TURP done between April 2004 to June 2008, at The Kidney Centre PGTI, Karachi. Total 60 patients were enrolled. Age, size of prostate, days catheterized before TURP, the post operative day of catheter removal and results after catheter removal were recorded.

Results: Fifty two (86.7%) patients had successful voiding while 8 (13.3%) patients, 4 from each group, went into retention again. There was no significant difference in the results of patients who had catheters for either shorter or longer periods prior to surgery.

Conclusion: There is no difference in early versus late removal of catheter after TURP in patients who present with AUR.