BACKGROUND:Epidural analgesia is widely used for efficient pain relief after major surgery. However, it may cause urinary retention, leading to delayed removal of bladder catheters with prolonged patient discomfort. Using a specific regimen in patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), we examined the optimal duration of urinary catheterization in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery. METHODS:Seventy-eight patients scheduled for elective thoracotomy were prospectively randomized into two groups: Group 1, removal of the transurethral catheter on the first postoperative day (n = 38); Group 2, removal of the catheter after discontinuation of PCEA (n = 40). The PCEA regimen was a mixture containing low-dose morphine, bupivacaine and neostigmine and was given for 3 days after surgery in all subjects. Micturition problems, pain scores assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS), and side effects were evaluated during and after PCEA treatment. RESULTS: The average duration of urinary drainage after surgery was 30.2 + or - 5.1 hours and 78.5 + or - 7.3 hours in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. After removal of the bladder catheter, no patient in either group required re-catheterization for urinary retention or encountered catheter-related infection. VAS scores were significantly lower in Group 1 at rest and at 24, 36 and 48 hours after cessation of PCEA. VAS scores were significantly higher in Group 2 patients, possibly due to catheter-induced pain related to prolonged catheterization. CONCLUSION:Routine continuous bladder catheterization may not necessarily be required after thoracotomy in patients with ongoing continuous thoracic epidural analgesia.
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BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia is widely used for efficient pain relief after major surgery. However, it may cause urinary retention, leading to delayed removal of bladder catheters with prolonged patient discomfort. Using a specific regimen in patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), we examined the optimal duration of urinary catheterization in patients undergoing major thoracic surgery. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients scheduled for elective thoracotomy were prospectively randomized into two groups: Group 1, removal of the transurethral catheter on the first postoperative day (n = 38); Group 2, removal of the catheter after discontinuation of PCEA (n = 40). The PCEA regimen was a mixture containing low-dose morphine, bupivacaine and neostigmine and was given for 3 days after surgery in all subjects. Micturition problems, pain scores assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS), and side effects were evaluated during and after PCEA treatment. RESULTS: The average duration of urinary drainage after surgery was 30.2 + or - 5.1 hours and 78.5 + or - 7.3 hours in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. After removal of the bladder catheter, no patient in either group required re-catheterization for urinary retention or encountered catheter-related infection. VAS scores were significantly lower in Group 1 at rest and at 24, 36 and 48 hours after cessation of PCEA. VAS scores were significantly higher in Group 2 patients, possibly due to catheter-induced pain related to prolonged catheterization. CONCLUSION: Routine continuous bladder catheterization may not necessarily be required after thoracotomy in patients with ongoing continuous thoracic epidural analgesia.