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Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) is a common topic lately. However, not all complications of urinary catheters are infectious. A review of 37 studies published this month in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that non-infectious complications are common. The authors sorted the studies into 3 categories- short term and long term catheterization in patients without spinal cord injury (SCI) and long term catheterization in patients with spinal injury. Urine leakage occurred in 10% of the short-term catheterization patients and up to 52% of the long term patients. Patients with SCI had higher rates of serious side effects, including hematuria and urethral stricture. Causation of these complications was not directly addressed, but as 6% of all inpatient urologic consultations are for complications from catheter placement, the authors suggest injury during catheterization may be a factor.
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