Use Versus Non-use of Bladder Catheterization in Elective Cesarean Delivery

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Use Versus Non-use of Bladder Catheterization in Elective Cesarean Delivery

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the impact of routine bladder catheterization in uncomplicated cesarean sections on hospitalization time (readiness to discharge), time to ambulation, urinary retention, development of urinary tract infections, prevention of bladder injury, operating time, and patient satisfaction.

This would be a randomized controlled trial conducted on the labour and delivery and post-partum unit at a large academic site (Foothills Medical Centre) in Calgary, Alberta. Study recruitment of patients awaiting delivery via CS would occur either in participating prenatal clinics in Calgary or in obstetrical triage by a trained nurse research assistant. Participants would be randomized into either a catheterized or non-catheterized group prior to their scheduled elective CS. Allocation concealment will be ensured by using either a central computer generator for randomization if funding permits, otherwise sealed, opaque, and sequenced envelopes will be used. Since there may be potential differences in patients with increasing parity, randomization will be stratified by parity and blocked to prevent imbalance in treatment groups.

Inclusion criteria:

- women who are 18 years of age or older with a singleton pregnancy presenting for an elective primary or repeat CS.

Exclusion criteria:

- diagnosis of abnormal placentation including placenta previa, vasa previa, or suspected invasive disease