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Urinary catheter: For routine laparoscopic right colectomy, the urinary catheter is removed in the operating room. Even in the presence of a thoracic epidural, urinary catheters can be removed on POD1 in patients at low risk for urinary retention. A bladder scan based protocol is used to monitor for urinary retention in patients who do not void, and in-and-out catheterization performed. This approach reduces UTI rates and does not result in increased rates of reinsertion of the foley catheter compared to later removal (1).
For more information, see Chapter 15: Management of Tubes, Drains and Catheters in The SAGES / ERAS® Society Manual of Enhanced Recovery Programs for Gastrointestinal Surgery
References
1. Zaouter C, Kaneva P, Carli F. Less urinary tract infection by earlier removal of bladder catheter in surgical patients receiving thoracic epidural analgesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2009 Nov-Dec;34(6):542-8.
