Evaluation of pain and catheter-related bladder discomfort relative to balloon volumes of indwelling urinary catheters: A prospective study

• Main Authors: Ahmed S. Zugail, Ugo Pinar, Jacques Irani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Urological Association 2019-01-01
• Series: Investigative and Clinical Urology
• Subjects: Clinical protocols; Pain management; Treatment outcome; Urinary bladder; Urinary catheters
• Online Access: https://www.icurology.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/2020ICU/icu-60-35.pdf

Purpose: To evaluate patients' tolerance to indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) before and after reducing their balloon volumes. IUCs are a source of discomfort or pain. Materials and Methods: All consecutive patients hospitalized in our department with IUCs were included during the study period with some exclusion. Each patient was his/her own control before and two hours after reduction of the balloon volume (RBV) by half using two types of assessments, a visual analog scale for pain and a catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) symptom questionnaire. Results: Forty-nine patients were included in our study that completed the assessments. The mean scores for pain before and after RBVs were 2.80 and 2.02, respectively. The difference was significant (p<0.05). The mean grades of the CRBD before and after RBVs were 1.02 and 0.75, respectively. The difference was significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: A 50% RBV has shown a significant amelioration in tolerating the catheter.