[Suprapubic bladder drainage versus a transurethral catheter in patients following anterior colporrhaphy].

Gynaecological operations for urinary stress incontinence necessitate long-term drainage of the bladder. In this retrospective study 100 patients receiving a conventional indwelling urethral catheter system were compared with 90 patients receiving a transabdominal suprapubic catheter for postoperative bladder drainage. The transurethral catheter was removed 5 days after the operation while the suprapubic catheter was left in place until no residual urine was detected. Patients with suprapubic bladder drainage showed no residual urine two days earlier (8.8 +/- 4.3 versus 10.9 +/- 5.0 days), left the hospital two days earlier (12.3 +/- 3.9 versus 13.9 +/- 4.4 days), and had a lower incidence of urinary tract infections (17% versus 30%) than patients with urethral catheters. In five cases suprapubic catheters had to be removed prematurely because of complications such as pain, persistent haematuria or obstruction of the catheter. Rates of haematuria were similar in both groups. Catheter-related pain was less frequent with suprapubic drainage. The acceptance of the suprapubic system by patients and nursing staff was good, particularly since measurement of the residual urine did not necessitate repeated urethral catheterization. The additional time required for placing the suprapubic catheter postoperatively is by far outweighed by the advantages of this system, such as shorter hospitalization and a lower incidence of urinary tract infections.