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Morbidity and the impact on daily activities associated with catheter drainage after acute urinary retention
Author(s) -
Khoubehi B.,
Watkin N.A.,
Mee A.D.,
Ogden C.W.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2000.00666.x
Subject(s) - medicine , urinary retention , catheter , emergency department , urinary catheterization , urinary system , urinary catheter , intensive care unit , quality of life (healthcare) , emergency medicine , surgery , nursing
Objective To evaluate the effect on quality of life of being discharged home with a catheter before definitive treatment in patients with acute urinary retention (AUR). Patients and methods Patients attending the emergency department with AUR were assessed and discharged home with a catheter if they fulfilled predetermined criteria. They were admitted to the day‐care unit for urological assessment and completed a disease‐specific quality‐of‐life questionnaire. Results Of 101 patients presenting to the emergency department in AUR, 84 were sent home after catheterization (83%); 78 (93%) patients completed the questionnaire. The major side‐effects reported were urinary leak (46%), mild haematuria (44%), urgency (42%), pain around the penis (42%), painful erection (31%) and catheter blockage (26%). Only 12% of patients felt having a catheter was very inconvenient and 93% would find it acceptable to have a catheter in future. Conclusion A significant minority of patients discharged home with a catheter had side‐effects related to their catheter but were not greatly inconvenienced, and their capacity to carry out normal daily activities was not impaired. The immediate discharge of patients in AUR and planned treatment will enable better use of inpatient urology resources.