Safety of a first-day catheter removal after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP): a propensity score-matched historical control study

Abstract

Objective: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the standard surgical management for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Postoperative maintenance of bladder catheterization is a routine procedure. However, the timing of catheter removal varies. Our objective is to evaluate the safety of early catheter removal (less than 24 hours) whilst maintaining efficacy, especially in an overcrowded community-based hospital, which has a high rate of preoperative catheterization (47.7%). Materials and Methods: This was a prospective and retrospective observational cohort study of 399 TURP indicated patients from February 2014 to September 2019. Since October 2017, the urological unit protocol has changed the process of removal of the catheter to less than 24 hours after monitoring for safety. Data from 95 patients after October 2017 was prospectively collected as the less than 24 hours group. The information from 2014 to October 2017 was collected and used as the control group. Data was then studied retrospectively for three years. The primary outcome, morbidity, and postoperative stay were compared with a 1:1 nearest neighbor propensity score-matched analysis. Results: After the score was matched and balanced, there was no difference as regards complications between the two groups (Odd ratio (OR): 1, (95% Confidence interval (95% CI): 0.14-7.10, p-value: 1.00). Acute urinary retention and postoperative bleeding were also comparable (OR: 0.5, 95% CI: (0.05-5.51), p-value: 0.57, and p-value: 0.99). The postoperative hospital stay was significantly less in the < 24 hours group (38.1 less hours, 95% CI: (41.82- 34.31), p-value: < 0.01). Conclusion: After TURP early catheter removal was safe even in the hospital with a high preoperative catheterization rate. Experienced surgeons, well-educated and compliant patients without contraindications (neurogenic bladder, urethral stricture, stroke, and some intraoperative complications: urinary bladder perforation, urinary tract infection, prostatic capsule perforation, or intraoperative bleeding) are our recommendation for adopting this protocol.