Effect of thoughtful preparation on the catheterization of children undergoing investigative studies.

AIMS: To evaluate an anesthetic sedation free method of transurethral catheterization in children.

METHODS

The child and his or her parents are thoroughly prepared for the procedure by means of written and oral child-adapted information and practical instructions. To evaluate this routine, a simple questionnaire was given to 115 consecutive children undergoing transurethral catheterization.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was returned by 99 children (86%). Most children and parents (95) found the preparation"good"or"very good"and tolerated the catheterization procedure well. Only six children reported the catheterization to be"very painful"(without requiring that the procedure was terminated). Complications, such as urgency, smarting pain during voidings, or both, after withdrawal of the catheter, occurred in 12 children and urinary tract infections in 3. Unexpectedly, girls were affected more often than boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful preparation of children and their parents allows the great majority of diagnostic studies that require urethral catheterization to be accomplished without anesthesia.