Clean intermittent self-catheterization: a 12-year followup.

We studied retrospectively 75 patients who performed clean intermittent self-catheterization for a mean of 7 years (maximum 12 years). Most of the patients had neuropathic bladder dysfunction and 92% were continent. Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections were present in 42% of the patients. Although the upper urinary tract was well preserved in the majority of the patients regular screening for silent hydronephrosis and/or asymptomatic reflux proved to be necessary. Complications occurred in 15 patients, with a urethral pathological condition being the most frequent complication in our male patients during followup.