Urinary retention in early urinary catheter removal after colorectal surgery

High urinary infection (UTI) rate (12%) for our rectal surgery prompted practice change to early catheter removal (postoperative day 2) and prophylactic tamsulosin. Here we report urinary retention (UR) and UTI after this change. Retrospective cohort study in male patients 50+ years undergoing elective colorectal surgery from July 2015 to July 2017. Multivariate regression was used to determine risk factors for urinary retention. 157 patients, 57 without and 100 with tamsulosin had UR 11.46% and UTI 5.13%. Of all potential risk factors, ileus (OR 5.50, 95% CI: 1.86–16.24) was an independent risk factor for urinary retention. Urinary retention of 11% after colorectal resection is within literature range and associated with post-operative ileus. Tamsulosin did not affect UR in our small study sample. Early catheter removal was associated with decreased UTI rate. •Removal of urinary catheter postop day 2 after colorectal surgery reduces UTI.•Urinary retention after early catheter removal was 11%.•Urinary retention was associated with postop ileus.