A randomized, controlled trial evaluating 2 techniques of postoperative bladder testing after transvaginal surgery.

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of 2 techniques for evaluating bladder function after transvaginal surgery. Subjects scheduled for transvaginal, outpatient surgery were consecutively enrolled and randomized to backfill-assisted voiding trial or a trial of spontaneous voiding after surgery. Sixty subjects were enrolled. The mean time in the perioperative anesthesia care unit for the backfill group was 199.5 minutes vs 226.6 minutes in the spontaneous voiding group (P = .08). Subjects randomized to backfill were more likely to adequately empty their bladders and be discharged home without catheter drainage than subjects in the spontaneous voiding group (61.5% vs 32.1%, respectively, P = .02). Multiple logistic regression further demonstrated that the backfill-assisted technique predicted successful bladder emptying after vaginal surgery (P = .02). Women undergoing transvaginal outpatient surgery are more likely to empty their bladder effectively before discharge if they are evaluated with a backfill-assisted voiding trial.