ABSTRACT

Objective: Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) has suggested a large inter- and intraindividual variation in patients after transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURB), emphasizing the need for valid predictors and improved treatment. We performed a prospective observational study to determine the incidence and predictors of early postoperative CRBD in patients undergoing TURB.

Methods: Consecutive adult patients under general anaesthesia necessitating urinary catheterization were included during a 5 month period. CRBD was assessed with a simple fourstep severity scale: no pain, mild pain (revealed only by interviewing the patient), moderate (a spontaneous complaint by the patient) and severe discomfort (agitation, loud complaints and attempt to remove the bladder catheter).

Results: Predictors of CRBD were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. A total of 220 consecutive adult patients were included, of which 82.3% complained of CRBD at day 1 (moderate or severe CRBD: 29.5%) and 23.2% complained of CRBD at day 3 (moderate or severe CRBD: 1.8%). In a multivariate analysis model, age < 65 years (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 4.8, p = 0.01) and male gender (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.3, 9.7, p = 0.02) were identified as independent predictors of moderate or severe CRBD.

Conclusion: Our study identified the incidence and predictive factors of moderate or severe CRBD and suggested that future improved treatment after TURB should focus on < 65 years male patients.