Effects of various catheter fix sites on catheter-associated lower urinary tract symptoms.

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effects of various catheter fix sites on catheter-associated lower urinary tract symptoms (CALUTS) in 450 patients who underwent surgical removal of upper urinary calculi 24 h earlier. All patients had 16 French Foley catheters inserted and the balloons were filled. In group A, the catheters were fixed on the top one-third of the thigh. In group B, the catheters were fixed on the abdominal wall. Patients in whom the catheters were neither fixed on the thigh nor abdominal wall were designated as controls. There were 150 patients in each group. CALUTS, such as frequency, urgency, burning during micturition, odynuria, bladder pain and other symptoms, including urethral discharge, a red and swollen external urethral orifice, catheter traction or blockage and catheter-associated discomfort were recorded. Patients in group A compared with the control group had a significantly lower incidence of frequency, urgency, odynuria, urethral discharge, catheter traction and catheter-associated discomfort (P<0.05). Patients in group B were observed to have a significantly lower incidence of urgency, urethral discharge, catheter traction and catheter-associated discomfort compared with the control group (P<0.05), but a higher incidence of odynuria, urethral pain, urethral discharge and a red and swollen external urethral orifice compared with group A (P<0.05). An additional catheter fixation site for bedridden patients was necessary and an additional fix site on the thigh was preferred to the abdominal wall, which may further reduce catheter-associated lower urinary tract symptoms.