Objective To compare clean intermittent catheterisation with transurethral indwelling catheterisation for the treatment of abnormal post-void residual bladder volume (PVR) following vaginal prolapse surgery.Design Multicentre randomised controlled trial.Setting Five teaching hospitals and one non-teaching hospital in the Netherlands.Population All patients older than 18 years experiencing abnormal PVR following vaginal prolapse surgery, with or without the use of mesh. Exclusion criteria were: any neurological or anxiety disorder, or the need for combined anti-incontinence surgery.Methods All patients were given an indwelling catheter directly after surgery, which was removed on the first postoperative day. Patients with a PVR of more than 150 ml after their first void were randomised for clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC), performed by nursing staff, or for transurethral indwelling catheterisation (TIC) for 3 days.Main outcome measure Bacteriuria rate at end of treatment.Results A total of 87 patients were included in the study. Compared with the TIC group (n = 42), there was a lower risk of developing bacteriuria (14 versus 38%; P = 0.02) or urinary tract infection (UTI; 12 versus 33%; P = 0.03) in the CIC group (n = 45); moreover, a shorter period of catheterisation was required (18 hours CIC versus 72 hours TIC; P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was similar in the two groups, and no adverse events occurred.Conclusion Clean intermittent catheterisation is preferable over indwelling catheterisation for 3 days in the treatment of abnormal PVR following vaginal prolapse surgery.Keywords Catheterisation, urinary retention, vaginal prolapse surgery.Please cite this paper as: Hakvoort R, Thijs S, Bouwmeester F, Broekman A, Ruhe I, Vernooij M, Burger M, Emanuel M, Roovers J. Comparing clean intermittent catheterisation and transurethral indwelling catheterisation for incomplete voiding after vaginal prolapse surgery: a multicentre randomised trial.