Postcatheterization urethral strictures following cardiac surgery in children.

Ten children among 221 with congenital cardiac anomalies developed urinary symptoms after removal of urethral catheters, which were routinely inserted for monitoring purposes during and after cardiac surgery. Six children developed urethral strictures. Poor tissue perfusion concomitant with serious congenital cardiac anomalies, together with secondary urine infection in the presence of a urethral catheter, are proposed as significant factors in the causation of such strictures in children undergoing cardiac surgery.