Catheter‐less Cohen transtrigonal ureteric reimplantation

Objective  To review the profile and outcome of patients in whom it was elected not to insert a bladder catheter as part of the management of Cohen transtrigonal ureteric reimplantation surgery. Patients and methods  Between April 2000 and April 2001, 37 patients underwent ureteric reimplantation by the senior author, using the Cohen transtrigonal technique. The use of the catheter‐less protocol began after the blockage of a suprapubic catheter soon after surgery; the catheter was removed with no adverse event. Subsequently, 27 of those undergoing ureteric reimplantation were selected not to have a bladder catheter. Later in the study a greater proportion of patients had no catheter inserted, as confidence with the catheter‐less technique increased. Caudal anaesthetic, oral analgesia and a single dose of intravesical bupivacaine were used for pain relief. The children were monitored closely after surgery and a urethral catheter inserted in the one patient who had not voided after 6 h. Results  The patients generally tolerated the lack of a bladder catheter well. Of the 27 patients who did not have a catheter inserted at surgery, one required catheterization (a girl with bilateral duplex systems and large ureteroceles). Two children stayed in hospital for 2 days after surgery, one was discharged on the day of surgery, and the remainder went home on oral analgesia on the first day after surgery. Since starting the catheter‐less approach, 10 patients have had a suprapubic catheter because they had more complex surgery, were older or because the approach had not developed sufficiently at the time of surgery. Conclusions  Intravesical ureteric reimplantation is not only safe when omitting a bladder catheter but, if used selectively, there appears to be a significant decrease in the hospital stay and discomfort after surgery.