Early removal or avoiding the use of perioperative indwelling urinary catheters with spontaneous pneumothorax surgery.

Objectives: The study evaluated the safety and advantages of no using urinary catheters (UCs) during the perioperative period in patients undergoing spontaneous pneumothorax surgery.

Methods: Forty-one patients aged 30 years or younger who underwent spontaneous pneumothorax surgery at our hospital between January 2018 and March 2020 were screened. Patients with postoperative recurrence were excluded. Patients were divided into three groups: the indwelling UC group (n = 10, group A), the group with UC removal in the operating room before extubation (n = 23, group B), and the no UC group (n = 8, group C). Perioperative circulatory complications, UC insertion or re-insertion, and time to getting out of bed after surgery and confirmation of initial urination were investigated by group.

Results: There were no perioperative UC insertions or re-insertions, or perioperative circulatory problems in any group. The median time (interquartile range) required for confirmation of initial postoperative urination was shorter in groups B and C [group A: 13.5 (10.6, 17.3) vs group B: 6.0 (5.0, 6.8) vs group C: 5.5 (3.8, 6.8) h; p = 0.01]. However, the time to getting out of bed after surgery was not significantly different [10.5 (6.4, 15) vs 6.0 (5.0, 7) vs 5.0 (3.8, 8) h; p = 0.12)]. Multivariable analysis showed that group A had a significantly different time to confirmation of initial urination (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Postoperative and intraoperative avoidance of indwelling UC use is acceptable in spontaneous pneumothorax surgery that satisfies certain conditions. Avoiding UC use has the potential to improve the patient experience and facilitate postoperative management.