- Immediate removal of the bladder catheter does not increase complications and promotes a more comfortable and safe recovery for patients.
A multicenter study led by Parc Taulí shows that Removing the urinary catheter immediately after minimally invasive colon surgery is a safe option and does not increase the risk of complications.The results, published in the scientific journal International Journal of Surgery, point to one clear improvement in patient comfort and quality of recovery.
A urinary catheter —also known as a bladder catheter— is a thin tube that is inserted into the bladder to facilitate the patient's urine removal during and after a surgical procedure. For years, its use has been extended for one or more days in the postoperative period, a practice established since the days of open surgery, when large incisions were made in the abdomen to gain direct access to the organs and it was necessary to protect the bladder from a higher risk of injury or temporary alterations to urination.
The advent of laparoscopic and robotic techniques, which allow for more precise operations, has reduced the risk of bladder damage and has opened up the debate about the need to keep the catheter in place for so long. “We wanted to see if removing it immediately after surgery would allow the patient to be mobilized safely,” he explains. Xavier Serra-Aracil, the surgeon and researcher at the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT) who led the study.
Urinary catheter | SOURCE: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
A study with more than 800 patients
The research, known as 'The Vesicalcath I-Study', is a prospective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial that has analyzed 804 patients undergoing minimally invasive colon surgeryThe study began in February 2020 and ended in October 2024, despite the difficulties arising from the pandemic.
The participants were divided into two groups: a control group, in which the urinary catheter was removed after 24 hours, and an experimental group, in which it was removed immediately after the intervention. The results obtained prove that early withdrawal does not increase the risk of urinary retention or infections., especially in left colon surgeries. “Our study shows that removing it before 24 hours not only does not cause complications, but also allows a more comfortable and safe recovery for the patient.”
Our study shows that extracting it before 24 hours not only does not cause complications, but also allows a more comfortable and safe recovery for the patient"
The study involved the participation of seven public hospitals: Parc Taulí University Hospital (Sabadell), Althaia University Hospital (Manresa), Mútua University Hospital of Terrassa, Joan XXIII University Hospital (Tarragona), Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital (Valencia) and Bellvitge University Hospital (Barcelona). This collaboration has been key to achieving a solid and representative volume of data.
In addition to Serra-Aracil's leadership, there is the contribution of professionals from Parc Taulí, such as researchers from colorectal surgery research group of I3PT José Hidalgo i Nuria Llorach“Both have been essential in coordinating with the participating hospitals and in managing the collection and entry of data.”
Impact on clinical practice
The results of 'The Vesicalcath I-Study' align with the international protocols for accelerated recovery after surgery ('ERAS', for its acronym in English, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) and provide solid evidence in an area where little data existed until now. According to Serra-Aracil, “the objective is for this study to contribute to modifying current protocols and placing more focus on the patient's well-being and early mobilization.”
Currently, the team has launched The Vesicalcath II-Study project, focused on rectal surgery, to study whether probing time can also be reduced in more complex interventions.
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