Comparison of Urinary Retention and Infection after Anterior Colporrhaphy with and without Catheterization

Colporrhaphy is a common surgery in gynecology and urinary retention is occasionally seen after this operation; so, bladder catheterization sometimes becomes necessary. However, this may cause infection with classic signs of urgency, dysuria and frequency. Catheterization also causes destruction of bladder neck, If applied for a long period. Therefore, the goal of the study was to evaluate the frequency of urinary retention and urinary infection due to catheterization following anterior Colporrhaphy surgery. The clinical trial study was done in Qhaem Hospital in 2001-2002. Premenopausal women entered this study. The patients were divided into two groups, A (Control group) and B (study group). Urinoanalysis was done for all patients before entrance to study. In group A the patients were catheterized post operatively, and the catheter was removed after 3 days with samples taken for urinoanalysis and urine culture. The patients were controlled after the removal of catheter. In group B the patients were not catheterized but were observed for urinary retention. Samples were taken for urine analysis and urine culture after 48 hours. Individual characteristics collected in the questionnaire were analyzed by the chi-square test and descriptive statistics. The study revealed that there is no significant difference between group A and group B in urinary retention following anterior Colporrhaphy (P=0.3). The study shows that in group A the frequency of urinary infection was 45%, but in group B, it was 20%. Therefore, in this group urinary infection was reduced (P=0.08). The days of hospitalization in group B were less than group A, as well (2 vs.3 days). Avoiding of bladder catheterization after Colporrhaphy doesn’t cause urinary retention and instead diminishes the risk of infection.