Postoperative Catheterization after Total Vaginal Hysterectomy: Six versus Twenty Four Hours. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To find out whether urinary bladder catheterization after total vaginal hysterectomy is more advantageous. Methods: Forty-six subjects were included. Subjects were divided into two groups. In one group (n = 24), a transurethral catheter was removed after six hours post-surgery. In the other group (n = 24), the catheter was removed after twenty-four hours. A few hours after removal of the catheter, patients were asked to urinate. Then residual volumes were measured by measuring cylinder, using 12F catheter. Pain was measured using visual analogue scale (VAS) score. Patients' length of stay was also compared. Data were analyzed using Student T-test if distributed normally or Mann-Whitney Rank if data was abnormal. Results: Mean age for each group was 63.21 ± 8.73 and 62.38 ± 7.52 (6 hours, 24 hours respectively). Median score for 6 hours group was 50.00 (range 5-80) and for 24 hours was 100 (range 30-250) (P = 0.000). Pain perception and hospital stay were not statistically different in both group (p = 0.134 and P = 0.377). Conclusions: In this study, difference in postoperative catheterization time is associated with residual volume.