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Suprapubic Catheter

Curated by clinicians: educational forums with videos, abstracts and conference information
diane k newman

Diane K. Newman, DNP FAAN BCB-PMD is a Urologic Nurse Practitioner, Adjunct Professor of Urology in Surgery, Research Investigator Senior, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and Former Co-Director of the Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health. She is the author of several books. The most recent is as lead editor of the 1st edition of the SUNA Core Curriculum for Urologic Nursing and of Clinical Application of Urologic Catheters, Devices and Products.

Physician-Scientist Review Articles
State of the Evidence Review Articles
Suprapubic Catheters
May 17, 2023
The initial insertion of a suprapubic catheter (SPC), a procedure referred to as a suprapubic cystostomy, can be performed under local or general anesthesia with a trocar system, using cystoscopic or ultrasound guidance. SPC insertion is an aseptic procedure that can be performed in an outpatient or office setting
May 17, 2023
The complication rate for cystostomy (surgical procedure for insertion of a suprapubic catheter (SPC)) ranges from 1.6% to 2.4%. The first few catheter changes after the initial SPC insertion should be performed using a guidewire as acute complications can occur.
May 17, 2023
Suprapubic catheters are often placed for a short time following certain surgical procedures as they can contribute to patients’ improved recovery times, compared with urethral catheterization. They can provide stable bladder drainage before and after complex urethral reconstructions.
May 17, 2023
Description: A urinary catheter valve, sometimes referred to as a “catheter plug” is a tap-like device fitted into the end of an indwelling urethral catheter (IUC) or suprapubic catheter (SPC). It allows the bladder to fill and then be emptied into a toilet or container at regular intervals during the day (e.g. 4-5 times/day). This mimics the physiologic function of the bladder. A catheter valve may be used in those patients who may have other options for future bladder management,
May 17, 2023
Background: Suprapubic catheterization (SPC) is placement of a hollow tube, a urinary catheter, into the bladder through a small incision in the avascular midline of the rectus sheath in the lower abdominal wall just above (3 cm) the symphysis of the pubic bone and below the naval. These 2 Figures show an SPC inserted in a female and a male. Like an indwelling urethral catheter (IUC), the catheter is there to drain the bladder and is secured in the bladder by a balloon inflated with fluid.
Conference Coverage
Conference Highlights Written by Physician-Scientist
Presented by Frank Martens
This presentation reported on data from the initial 500 patients from 20 centers who reached one-year follow-up in the EAU Research Foundation prospective registry SATURN (Surgery for mAle incontinence with artificial Urinary sphincters and slings) which was established to assess the efficacy of male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery in daily practice. SATURN’s overall goal is to analyze 1000 patients undergoing male SUI surgery with 10-year follow-up from 29 implanting centers in 9 European countries. The group has defined “cured” as the absence of pad use or only 1 security pad.
Presented by Nina Harke, MD
When was the last time you learned about a randomized controlled trial that demonstrated a statically and clinically significant difference in continence rates after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP)?
Presented by Sandip Vasavada, MD
The AUA and SUFU initially released a joint guideline for non-neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) in 2012, which was then updated in 2015. 1,2 This year there is a new update that has been announced. Dr. Vasavada presented on the latest updates to the OAB guidelines at today’s afternoon plenary session.
Presented by Nina Harke, MD
Dr. Harke presented their prospective study comparing different catheters for a different duration of time after robotic radical prostatectomy (RALP). This study won the best poster award at the ERUS 2018 meeting.
Presented by  Anne Pelletier-Cameron, MD
Anne Pelletier-Cameron, MD, provided a State-of-the-Art lecture at CUA 2018, discussing what every urologist should know about neurogenic bladder.
Presented by Yuding (Ding) Wang, MD
Yuding Wang, MD, and colleagues from McMaster University presented their initial results of an ultrasound compatible suprapubic catheter insertion training simulator at the CUA 2018 annual meeting.
Presented by Mariele Trimboli, MD
The treatment options for voiding dysfunction in females, especially in the case of urinary retention, are limited. Management typically defaults to the use of catheterization to empty the bladder, either at regular intervals or continuously, in order to prevent long-term sequelae to the upper urinary tract.
Presented by Hahn, et al.
The authors note that there are very few studies comparing these 3 methods of bladder drainage in the postoperative setting.  A network meta-analysis was performed of the available randomized controlled trials to elucidate the risk of UTIs associated with transurethral catheterization, suprapubic catheterization and clean intermittent catheterization in the postoperative setting.