Admission of patients with acute urinary retention leads to a definitive management decision

Prioritisation of catheterised patients for elective bladder outflow obstruction surgery in the current coronavirus disease 2019 era to reduce catheter-associated morbidity

Objectives:

This study aimed to audit the waiting times for a transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) at our institution, and to evaluate the extent of catheter-associated morbidity in this population.

Methods:

This was a retrospective closed-loop audit, with cycle one between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 and cycle two between 1 October 2019 and 29 February 2020. Data collected included patient demographics, catheter status, catheter-associated presentations to accident and emergency (A&E), admissions and waiting times for TURP. The waiting-list form now has a catheter box, and a goal of 30 days from waitlisting to operation was set for those catheterised.

Results:

In cycle 1, 36% of the 181 patients were catheterised, and waited a median of 119 days (interquartile range (IQR) 59–163 days) for their TURP, while those not catheterised waited a median of 118 days (IQR 57.75–188.25 days). Catheterised patients presented to A&E 93 times, resulting in 13 admissions, compared to two presentations and zero admissions for those not catheterised. The median time from catheter insertion to first A&E attendance was 20 days (IQR 2–101 days). In cycle 2, 33% of the 55 patients were catheterised, with the median waiting-list time falling to 32 days (IQR 22–46 days) in those catheterised and 33 days (IQR 20–49 days) in those not catheterised. All 11 A&E attendances were from catheterised patients, with no admissions. The median time from insertion to first A&E attendance was nine days (IQR 4–40 days). Eighty-eight per cent of the waiting-list forms had appropriately ticked the catheter box.

Conclusion:

Our study shows that catheterised patients awaiting a TURP are more likely to have complications necessitating A&E attendance. Prioritisation of these patients on the waiting list for bladder outflow obstruction surgery may help to reduce catheter-associated morbidity.

Level of evidence:

Level 2c.