Dempsey Amy, Krening Cyndy, Vorgic Laura
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2020 Nov;49(6):564-570. doi: 10.1016/j.jogn.2020.07.005. Epub 2020 Aug 18.
To compare the effects of continuous indwelling catheterization with those of intermittent catheterization during labor with epidural analgesia/anesthesia on mode of birth and incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms in the postpartum period.
Randomized clinical trial.
Labor and delivery units at three metropolitan hospitals in the Western United States.
Women (N = 252) who were nulliparous with term, singleton pregnancies in labor with epidural analgesia/anesthesia.
Participants were randomized to indwelling or intermittent (every 2 hours) catheterization groups after the administration of epidural analgesia/anesthesia during labor. One to 2 weeks after discharge, participants were contacted and questioned about symptoms of UTI.
A total of 252 participants were enrolled in the study: 81% (n = 202) gave birth vaginally, and 19% (n = 50) gave birth via cesarean. Between the indwelling and intermittent catheterization groups, demographic characteristics were similar. We found no significant difference in the incidence of cesarean birth between groups (15.6% vs. 22.5%, p = .172). Overall, 3% of participants reported and sought treatment for symptoms of UTI within 2 weeks with no significant difference between groups (p = .929).
We found no differences in mode of birth or symptoms of UTI in women who received indwelling or intermittent catheterization during epidural analgesia/anesthesia. We recommend additional research with objective data for UTI diagnosis and larger samples to study the multiple potential confounding variables associated with cesarean birth after catheterization during epidural analgesia/anesthesia.
