RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the effects on urinary tract infection (UTI) of indwelling urinary catheter placement during cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. RESULT: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding patient demographics. There was, however, a statistically significant increase in women using general anesthesia in the catheterized group (CG). Even so, the incidence of UTI was significantly greater in the CG (P<0.001). In addition, mean time to patient ambulation, first postoperative voiding, oral rehydration, intestinal movement and duration of hospital stay were significantly less in the uncatheterized group (UG; P<0.001), with most patients (95.3%) self-voiding without any intervention. Moreover, no intraoperative complications were recorded in the UG. CONCLUSION: Non-placement of indwelling urinary catheter during cesarean was more convenient to women with no increase in intraoperative complications, or urinary retention. Indwelling catheter placement in hemodynamically stable patients proved not to be beneficial in this study.