Preoperative intermittent catheterization in patients with prostatic hypertrophy.

Transurethral prostatectomy or retropubic prostatectomy was performed in 259 patients. Before surgery, 143 patients were voiding spontaneously, while 84 used an intermittent catheter and 32 an indwelling catheter. Preoperative and postoperative bacteriuria was found in 9% and 39%, respectively, of the patients who voided spontaneously, in 13% and 50% of the patients using intermittent catheterization, and in 62% and 84% of the patients with indwelling catheters. Based on these findings, it is recommended that patients with urinary retention or residual urine use intermittent catheterization rather than an indwelling catheter.