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RACS ASC 2025
Troubleshooting simple urinary catheter problems in the community prevents hospital transfers
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Poster

Disciplines

Urology Surgery

Presentation Description

Institution: Austin Health - Victoria, Australia

Purpose A significant percentage of aged-care home residents require urinary catheters, and managing related issues without transferring patients to hospitals is crucial for both residents and the healthcare system. The Residential In-Reach (RIR) team, a mobile geriatrics unit, visits aged-care homes to manage acute issues, aiming to prevent unnecessary hospitalisations. This study evaluates the outcomes of catheter-related concerns referred to the RIR team. Methodology We retrospectively reviewed records of aged-care patients with catheter-related concerns referred to the RIR team from 2018 to 2020. Patients with non-primary urinary tract indications for catheter use, or those referred for trial of void, were excluded. Management included catheter flushing, repositioning, or changing, as well as non-emergent medical assessments, such as for infections or haematuria without systemic symptoms. Follow-up phone reviews were conducted to assess intervention effectiveness and patient well-being. Results 150 cases were included, with a mean age of 81.6 years. Of these, 103 cases involved urethral catheters, and 47 involved suprapubic catheters. The most common issue was blocked or bypassing catheters (59.3%). Management included reassurance (10.7%), saline flushing (8.1%), and catheter change/reinsertion (72.0%). Of the cases, 86.0% were discharged from the RIR team, while 14.0% required emergency department evaluation. Conclusion The RIR team effectively and safely managed most urinary catheter-related issues within aged-care homes, with only 14.0% needing further hospital care. This highlights the potential of mobile geriatrics units to reduce unnecessary hospital transfers for vulnerable patients.
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Dr Matthew Alberto - , Dr Anne Hong - , Dr Cheryl Yeo - , Dr Henry Yao - , Prof Damien Bolton -