Immediate or delayed trial without catheter in acute urinary retention in males: A systematic review

Objective

To compare the success of establishing spontaneous micturition following immediate trial without catheter (TWOC) to delayed TWOC in males catheterized for acute urinary retention.

Materials and methods

In this systematic review, we included studies reporting success rates of immediate TWOC or delayed TWOC (≤30 days) among males ≥18 years of age catheterized for acute urinary retention. We excluded studies on suprapubic catheterization, postoperative/perioperative catheterization and urinary retention related to trauma. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Open Grey and Clinicaltrials.gov. The search was concluded on 30 November 2022. There were no restrictions on language or publication date. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools. We did random-effects restricted maximum likelihood model meta-analyses. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE.

Results

We included 61 studies. In two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), both with some concerns for risk of bias, including in total 174 participants, the relative success rate was 1.22 (95% CI 0.84-1.76) favouring delayed TWOC. In two comparative cohort studies, both with serious risk of bias, including 642 participants, the relative success rate was 1.18 (0.94-1.47) favouring delayed TWOC. One study was excluded from this meta-analysis because of critically low quality. Four studies reporting success rates for cohorts with immediate TWOC, all with serious risk of bias, including 409 participants, had an overall success rate of 47% (29-66). Fifty-two studies reporting success rates for cohorts with delayed TWOC, all with serious risk of bias, including 12 489 participants, had an overall success rate of 53% (49-56). The certainty of the evidence was considered low for the RCTs and very low for the rest.

Conclusion

There was a limited number of appropriately designed studies addressing the research question directly. The evidence favours neither approach.

Elements for Trial Without Catheter (TWOC) Success in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients: Lessons We Have Learned

BACKGROUND

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive disease that causes low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). As prostatic volume grows, the prostatic urethra may become completely obstructed, resulting in full urine retention and acute hypogastric pain. Our research aimed to identify the optimal trial without catheter (TWOC) therapeutic approach and identify those factors that are associated with the recurrence of complete urinary retention (CUR).

METHODOLOGY

The study enrolled with complete urinary retention and BPH were included in the study, after the insertion of a Foley catheter. The patients received tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day as an alpha-blocker treatment. In our investigation, patients who encountered complete urinary retention were randomly categorized into four groups based on the duration of urinary catheterization as determined by the attending urologist.

RESULTS

Maintaining the urethrovesical catheter for three to seven days was related to the highest success of spontaneous urination, which was statistically significant compared to other study groups. (p=0.0007). Age over 70 years, no alpha-blocker before the urinary retention episode, and prostatic volume exceeding 50 ml were all associated with decreased TWOC efficacy. We found the highest rates of spontaneous urination were after three to seven days of urinary catheterization.

CONCLUSION

BPH and complete urine retention can be managed by TWOC in many cases. Several factors affect the test's efficacy. Prolonged urinary catheter maintenance over seven days, prostatic volume over 50 ml, and age over 70 years are poor prognostic indicators.

A randomized controlled trial of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for chronic urinary retention following traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) therapy for chronic urinary retention (CUR) following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

This 2-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) enrolled 86 eligible patients with CUR following TBI. All included patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group (n = 43) or a sham group (n = 43). The administration of NMES or sham NMES, as intervention, was performed for an 8-week period treatment, and 4-week period follow-up. In addition, all subjects were required to undergo indwelling urinary catheter throughout the study period. The primary outcome was assessed by the post-voiding residual urine volume (PV-VRU). The secondary outcomes were evaluated by the voided volume, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and quality of life, as assessed by Barthel Index (BI) scale. In addition, adverse events were also recorded during the study period. All primary and secondary outcomes were measured at baseline, at the end of 8-week treatment, and 4-week follow-up.

RESULTS

At the end of 8-week treatment, the patients in the treatment group did not achieve better outcomes in PV-VRU (P = .66), voided volume (P = .59), Qmax (P = .53), and BI scores (P = .67), than patients in the control group. At the end of 4-week follow-up, there were also no significant differences regarding the PV-VRU (P = .42), voided volume (P = .71), Qmax (P = .24), and BI scores (P = .75) between 2 groups. No adverse events occurred in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the findings of this study showed that NMES therapy may not benefit patients with CUR following TBI.

Emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in catheter-associated urinary tract infection in neurogenic bladder patients

BACKGROUND

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is a common clinic problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate recent trends in CAUTI in neurogenic bladder patients focusing on extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli.

METHODS

Isolates from the urine of neurogenic bladder patients with UTI were investigated. Nine strains of ESBL-producing E coli were assayed by molecular strain typing using the Diversilab system for repetitive-sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR).

RESULTS

E coli accounted for most of the bacteria (74.1% to 81.0%) that produced ESBLs. Rep-PCR data showed that 7 out of 9 ESBL-producing E coli belonged to the same typing group with high similarity (more than 97% similarity) and that this distribution corresponded with antibiotic resistance patterns.

CONCLUSION

ESBL producing E coli strains isolated from CAUTI patients could be discriminated by rep-PCR typing using the Diversilab system in consistent with antibiotic resistance patterns.

Factors affecting trial without catheter for first spontaneous acute urinary retention

Purpose

To find the association of trial without catheter (TWOC) outcome for first spontaneous acute urinary retention (AUR) in benign prostatic obstruction with age, prior lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), retention volume at catheterization (RV), and size of prostate.

Methods

Our prospective observational analytical (interventional) study enrolled 77 cases of spontaneous AUR over 24 months. After clinical evaluation, digital rectal examination, and transabdominal ultrasonography, all patients were catheterized per urethra and their RV was recorded. TWOC was administered after 2 or 3 doses of 0.4 mg tamsulosin-oral absorption control system and after 48-72 hours had passed. A successful endpoint was defined as a maximum flow-rate, >5 mL/sec; voided volume, >100 mL; postvoid residue, <200 mL; and voiding within 6 hours of catheter removal. Data obtained from 58 patients were analyzed after excluding the cases lost to follow-up and secondary exclusion. Age, RV, duration of LUTS, and prostate volume on examination and ultrasonography (PUSG) were recorded and statistically analyzed. Prostate-specific antigen levels were obtained on follow-up and cases of cancer, as seen on transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy, were secondarily excluded.

Results

The patients had a mean age of 65.89±8.67 years. Prior LUTS was seen in 35 patients (2.07±2.91 months). The mean PUSG and RV were 46.81±20.58 mL and 854.8±36.26 mL, respectively. Thirty patients underwent a successful TWOC; a mean age of 63.13±8.58 years (mean±standard deviation; unpaired t-test; P=0.0053) and a PUSG of ≤45 mL (Pearson chi-square test; P=0.0427) were significantly associated with a successful outcome.

Conclusions

There is a significant association between TWOC outcome, age (P=0.0053), and PUSG (P=0.0427).