Teaching patients clean intermittent self-catheterisation prior to anti-incontinence or prolapse surgery: is it necessary in women with obstructive voiding dysfunction?

To determine the value of pre-operative teaching of clean intermittent self-catheterisation (CISC) in women who undergo anti-incontinence and/or prolapse surgery and who are at ‘high risk’ to have post-operative incomplete bladder emptying. Out of the 402 patients who underwent anti-incontinence and/or prolapse surgery at our institute (March 2008–March 2009), 48 patients had at least one obstructive lower urinary tract symptom and one obstructive urodynamic parameter before surgery and were considered at ‘high risk’ to have post-operative incomplete bladder emptying. They were taught CISC pre-operatively. Out of the 48 patients, 7 (14.6%) had incomplete bladder emptying. The incidence of post-operative incomplete bladder emptying was higher in the older women (P