Comparison of clean intermittent and transurethral indwelling catheterization for the treatment of overt urinary retention after vaginal delivery: a multicentre randomized controlled clinical trial

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Overt postpartum urinary retention (PUR) is the inability to void after delivery and affects up to 7% of patients. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and transurethral indwelling catheterization (TIC) are both standard treatments, but have not previously been compared. Clinical guidelines on postpartum bladder management are lacking. METHODS: A total of 85 patients were randomised for TIC (n=45) and CIC (n=40). In total 68 patients (34 patients with TIC and 34 patients with CIC) completed the UDI-6 questionnaire 3 months after delivery.. Patients allocated to TIC received an indwelling catheter for 24 h and if necessary, another catheter for 48 h. Patients with CIC were intermittently catheterized or taught to self-catheterize until adequate voiding with a postvoid residual volume (PVRV) of <150 mL was achieved. The primary outcome was the presence of bothersome micturition symptoms as measured using the Dutch-validated Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6). RESULTS: Only seven patients (10%) reported bothersome micturition problems 3 months after delivery. No significant differences in the occurrence of micturition symptoms were found. Median PVRV was 800 mL in the CIC group and 650 mL in the TIC group. PVRV was ≥1,000 mL in 24% of the patients. The median duration of catheterization was significantly shorter in the CIC group than in the TIC group (12 h vs. 24 h, p < 0,01). In patients with CIC, 35% required only one catheterization before complete bladder emptying occurred. The duration of treatment was not related to the initial PVRV. Both treatments were equally well accepted by the patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with overt PUR, CIC is the preferred treatment as a considerable percentage of patients appear to be over-treated when the standard duration of TIC is 24 h. The occurrence of micturition symptoms is not associated with the catheterization method used. CIC is well tolerated in patients with overt PUR.