Incidence and Severity of Catheter-Related Bladder Discomfort Among Nonurological Adult Patients in a Postanesthesia Care Unit.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and severity of catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) among nonurological adult patients in a postanesthesia care unit with catheter sizes of 10 to 18 Fr. DESIGN: Descriptive, prospective, and quantitative study. METHODS: In all, 401 patients were included. Incidence and severity of CRBD were assessed upon arrival and 1 hour after arrival. FINDINGS: CRBD incidence was 17.2% (n = 69) on arrival versus 19.1 (n = 74) 1 hour after arrival. Male gender showed a significantly higher risk of developing CRBD upon arrival (odds ratio, 3.15; P = .000; 95% confidence interval, 1.78 to 5.59), and 1 hour after arrival (odds ratio, 2.34; P = .002; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 3.99). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest using a catheter as small as possible and confirm that men experience significantly more discomfort, whatever sized catheter is used.

Preventing Inadvertent Hypothermia in Patients Undergoing Major Spinal Surgery: A Nonrandomized Controlled Study of Two Different Methods of Preoperative and Intraoperative Warming.

PURPOSE: To evaluate if a Full Access Underbody (FAU) blanket used preoperatively and intraoperatively in patients undergoing major spinal surgery prevents hypothermia compared with current practice and to explore patients' experiences of comfort. DESIGN: A nonrandomized controlled trial. METHODS: Sixty patients were included, 30 in each group. Temperature was assessed on arrival, after connecting to the bladder catheter, and at the start and end of surgery. In the FAU group, comfort was evaluated at arrival and after 10 minutes of prewarming. FINDINGS: The incidence of hypothermia at the start of surgery was significantly lower (relative risk [95% confidence interval], 0.28 [0.13 to 0.59]). Before prewarming, 77% felt comfortable, 20% cold, and 3% hot. After prewarming 60% felt comfortable, 37% hot, and 3% very hot. CONCLUSIONS: Patients using the FAU blanket had a 72% lower incidence of hypothermia at the start of the operation. Attention to thermal comfort during surgery is important.