An audit of suprapubic catheter insertion performed by a urological nurse specialist

• Main Authors: Sam C Zacharia, Maneesh Sinha, Prasanna Matippa, Venkatesh Krishnamoorthy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Urology
• Subjects: Nurse specialist; suprapubic catheter insertion; trocar cystostomy
• Online Access: http://www.indianjurol.com/article.asp?issn=0970-1591;year=2013;volume=29;issue=1;spage=16;epage=18;aulast=Zacharia
• ISSN: 0970-1591; 1998-3824

Aims: To introduce the concept that a urological Nurse Specialist can perform Suprapubic Catheter (SPC) insertions independently without significant complications, if systematic training is given. Settings and Design: Retrospective study. Materials and Methods: A retrospective audit of Suprapubic Catheter insertions performed by a Urological Nurse Specialist was conducted between April 2009 and April 2011. Results: Of the total 53 patients, in 49 (92.45%) the procedure was successful. Out of the remaining four, two (3.77%) were done by a urologist. One patient′s (1.89 %) SPC did not drain after placement and ultrasonography reported that the Foley balloon was lying within the abdominal wall. The other patient′s SPC drained well for a month and failed to drain after the first scheduled change in a month. Since the ultrasonography showed the Foley balloon to be anterior to the distended bladder, an exploration was performed and this revealed that the SPC tract had gone through a fold of peritoneum before reaching the bladder. None had bowel injury. Conclusions: If systematic training is given, a urological Nurse Specialist can perform SPC insertions independently without significant complications.