Is it cost-effective for patients to removal their own catheter
following pelvic floor repair during COVID pandemic?
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the willingness of patients to remove urinary
catheters by themselves after anterior / posterior vaginal wall repairs
done as day cases Design: This was a non-randomized, single centre,
prospective pilot study where we included patients who have had anterior
and/or posterior colporrhaphy as day cases between November 2020 and
September 2022. Setting - UK DGH hospital urogynaecology department
Population: all patients who had anterior/ posterior colporrhaphy as day
cases between nov 2020 and sept 2022 Methods :Non-randomized, single
centre, prospective pilot study Main Outcome: Majority of patients were
able to remove their urinary catheters post operatively without
complications Measures: Outcomes were evaluated using patients’ feedback
respones Results: The data obtained was over 22 month peroid.The total
was a total of 81 patients with 61% of them having anterior repairs and
39% having posterior repairs. Ages of the participants ranged from 42
years to 89 years. 79 % of questionnaires were returned. 98% of the
enrolled patients would not prefer to wait for another admission date
where a bed will be available. 97% of our patients removed the urinary
catheter by themselves and found it to be easy. 88% of our patients
would not prefer to come to the hospital or have a nurse sent to their
homes to remove the catheter. 89 % of our patients would recommend this
service to a friend. Conclusion: Our Study demonstrated that removal of
patient’s own catheter following vaginal wall repairs is cost-saving and
highly acceptable to this cohort of patients