Stab Suprapubic Catheter Insertion: Indications and Peri-Operative Complications, A Four and Half Year Review at The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra

Abstract

Background: Suprapubic catheter insertion is a common urological procedure, which is often considered to be simple and safe even in inexperienced hands. The objective of our study was to determine the peri-operative morbidity associated with Stab Suprapubic Catheter Insertion (SSPCI) (i.e. stab suprapubic cystostomy)Patients and Methods: A total of 429 patients who had suprapubic catheter insertion using the stab method (with trocar and sheath) at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, between January 2010 and June 2014 were identified and their case notes reviewed todetermine the peri-operative complication rate in relation to the categories of doctors who undertook the procedure.Results: The commonest indication for a stab suprapubic catheter insertion was acute/chronic retention of urine secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The overall complication rate was 3.5% with bowel perforation constituting 0.7% of the complications.Conclusion: Stab suprapubic catheter insertion is a safe and effective bedside procedure for bladder drainage when urethral catheterization fails or is undesirable, and can be performed by all grades of surgeons/medical doctors, in selected patients.Complications associated with the procedure can be reduced to a minimum by strict attention to some technical details.