Intermittent versus indwelling urinary catheterisation in hip surgery patients : a randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis

• Background:  Hip surgery is associated with a risk for postoperative urinary retention. To avoid urinary retention hip surgery patients undergo urinary catheterisation. Urinary catheterisation, however, is associated with increased risk for urinary tract infection (UTI). Presently, there is limited knowledge whether intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation is the preferred choice for short-term bladder drainage in patients undergoing hip surgery.Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate differences between intermittent and indwelling urinary catheterisation in hip surgery patients in relation to nosocomial UTI and cost-effectiveness.Design: Randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis. Setting: The study was carried out at an orthopaedic department at a Swedish university hospital.Method: One hundred seventy hip surgery patients (patients with fractures or with osteoarthritis) were randomly allocated to either intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation. Data collection took place at four time points: during stay in hospital, at discharge and at 4 weeks and 4 months after discharge. Results: Eighteen patients contracted nosocomial UTIs, 8 in the intermittent catheterisation group and 10 in the indwelling catheterisation group (p = 0.618).  The patients in the intermittent catheterisation group were more often catheterised (p <0.001) and required more bladder scans (p <0.001) but regained normal bladder function sooner than the patients in the indwelling catheterisation group (p <0.001). Fourteen percent of the patients in the intermittent group did not need any catheterisation. Cost-effectiveness was similar between the indwelling and intermittent urinary catheterisation methods.Conclusions: In the perspective of cost-effectiveness both indwelling and intermittent methods could be appropriate in clinical praxis. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages but by not using indwelling catheterisation routinely in this patient group unnecessary catheterisations might be avoided.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cost-effectiveness

hip arthroplasty

hip fractures

intermittent catheterisation

indwelling catheterisation

nursing

randomised controlled trial

urinary tract infection

Vårdvetenskap

Nursing Science

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)