Catheterization options following radical surgery for cervical cancer.

This trial assessed the potential benefits of intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) over standard care with suprapubic catheterization (SPC) in the postoperative bladder care of women with early-stage cervical cancer following radical hysterectomy. A prospective randomized controlled trial of 40 women was carried out. The urinary infection rate (catheter specimen of urine) was significantly higher in the ISC group at day 3 and day 5 (42% and 63%) compared to the SPC group (6% and 18%), p=0.05 and p=0.004, respectively. Forty-seven percent of patients randomized to SPC documented having problems arising from the SPC site, of which 23% were shown to have a positive wound swab. Despite a greater urinary tract infection rate, the technique of ISC was seen by women to be more acceptable, allowing fewer disturbances at night, greater freedom to live a normal life and less anxiety/embarrassment compared to SPC.