Study Comparing Short Versus Standard Duration of Urinary Catheter Use After Total Mesorectal Excision Surgery Evaluating Catheter Removal on Postoperative Day 1 Versus Day 3 for Urinary Retention and Infection Risk

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the optimal duration of urinary catheter use after pelvic colorectal surgery, specifically total mesorectal excision TME. This study aims to compare whether removing the catheter on the first day after surgery is as safe as the current standard of removing it on the third day. The goal is to reduce complications like urinary retention, urinary tract infections, and longer hospital stays, while improving recovery. This is a prospective, randomized, non-inferiority trial conducted by the University of Southern California. Participants undergoing TME will be randomly assigned to two groups one with catheter removal on postoperative day 1 experimental group and the other with removal on day 3 control group. Catheter removal is scheduled at 9 AM on the assigned days. The study involves standard care during and after surgery, including intravenous fluids and monitoring. The main comparison focuses on urinary retention rates, while secondary measures include urinary tract infections and hospital stay length. During the hospital stay, researchers will monitor urinary retention by checking if patients can urinate within 6 hours after catheter removal and using bladder scans if needed. Urinary tract infections will be diagnosed based on symptoms and urine cultures, treated as standard. Data on patient demographics, surgery details, and outcomes will be collected until discharge, which marks the study endpoint. The average hospital stay is about 4 days, and no follow-up is required after discharge.

Duration of Urinary Catheterization