Comparison between the Effect of External or Internal Catheter on the Hospitalization Time, Drain Leakage, and Postoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy with Orthotopic Neobladder

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of internal catheter insertion with external catheter on the duration of hospitalization, drain leakage rate, and postoperative complications in patients with bladder cancer undergoing neoplasia radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder referring to Alzahra and Noor hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, during the years 2016-18. In a clinical trial study, 30 patients with an external catheter and 30 with internal catheter enrolled. They were followed up for hospitalization period (course) and up to 6 month, and the complications of catheter installation, including drainage and duration of hospitalization in two group was determined and compared. Findings: The prevalence of early and late postoperative complications was not significantly different between the two groups. But, the mean drain leakage during the hospitalization was 321.79 ± 235 and 217.36 ± 197.51 ml in internal and external catheter groups, respectively, and the rate of urinary tract leakage was significantly lower in the group of external catheter (P = 0.037). Insertion of internal catheter in patients undergoing radical cystectomy with orthotopic neobladder is associated with better results of the urinary flow in these patients, while the incidence of postoperative complications had no significant statistical difference between the two groups. Therefore, it seems that the insertion of the internal catheter is preferable to the external catheter.