| Summary: | Aim: To investigate the best time for removal of urethral catheter after retro-pubic prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Patients and Method: All the patients who had retropubic prostatectomy for BPH in a private urological clinic in Enugu, between June 1998 and February 2001, were randomly grouped into two. Group A patients had their urethral catheters removed within 24 hours of the urine being visually clear of blood, and group B patients had their catheters removed within 24 hours after the supra-pubic wound sutures were removed provided that the wound healed satisfactorily. The complications encountered and the length of hospital stay were recorded.
Results: A total of 121 patients were studied (60 in group A and 61 in group B). The mean age of group A patients was 68.4 years and that for group B 67.7years. The mean weight of the enucleated prostate in group A was 68.2gm and that in group B was 69.4gm. Associated illnesses and duration of symptoms were comparable in both groups. In group A, out of the 60 patients, 20(33.3%) had one or more complications. There were 28 complications in this group. In group B, out of the 61 patients 4(6.6) had one complication each. The mean hospital stay in group A was 10.1 days while that in group B was 10.7 days.
Conclusion: Urethral catheter should be left in place for at least seven day after retro-pubic prostatectomy.
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