Evaluation of Functional Bladder Recovery in Patients with a Chronic Foley Catheter for Urinary Retention: A Randomized, Prospective, Blind and Comparative Study with 18 Months of Follow-up

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the repercussions of chronic Foley catheter use in patients with urinary retention on the functional recovery of the bladder following corrective surgery.Methods: Twenty-four men were randomly selected from the waiting list for prostate surgery in our urology outpatient service database and divided into two groups. One consisted of men with intermediate/severe Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) and other consisted of patients with urinary retention managed with a Foley catheter for a long time, consequent to benign prostatic enlargement. Both groups underwent prostatic surgery. Prior to their operations and at the 6 th , 12 th , and 18 th month follow-ups, they completed the IPSS and ICIQ-SF questionnaires and received a urodynamic evaluation.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in questionnaire scores or in urodynamic parameters at the end of the 18 months of follow-up. Conclusions:Patients experiencing urinary retention, who have been chronic users of a vesical catheter, have a similar postoperative outcome as patients with obstruction but without retention. Preoperative detrusor contraction force seems to be a very important factor in functional vesical recovery outcomes.