Despite reviewing 39 eligible trials, few firm conclusions could be reached because of the multiple comparisons considered, the small size of individual trials, and their low quality. Whether or not to use a particular policy is usually a trade-off between the risks of morbidity (especially infection) and risks of recatheterisation.
A comparison of midnight versus early morning removal of urinary catheters after transurethral resection of the prostate.
This article describes a study that compares the outcomes of midnight versus early morning urethral catheter removal after transurethral resection of the prostate. SUBJECTS AND SETTING/METHODS: The research setting was a large, metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia. Forty-eight patients who had undergone transurethral resection of the prostate were randomly assigned to either group A, catheter removal at 2400 hours (n = 20), or group B, catheter removal at 0600 hours (n = 28).
                Data collected included time to first void, volume of first void, time between catheter removal and discharge from hospital, weight of prostatic resection, and tissue pathology.
                There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with respect to pathology, weight of prostatic resection, mean volume of first void, or time to first void after catheter removal. There was a significant difference in the time between catheter removal and discharge from hospital. Eighty-five percent of those having catheters removed at 2400 hours were discharged on the same day as catheter removal, as compared with 65% of those who underwent catheter removal at 0600 hours (chi 2 = 12.684; P < 0.005).
                After transurethral resection of the prostate, removal of the urethral catheter at 2400 hours reduced the length of hospital stay, but did not significantly affect the time to first void or the volume of the first void.