Monitoring of micturition and bladder volumes can replace routine indwelling urinary catheters in children receiving intravenous opioids: a prospective cohort study

Conclusion: The incidence of urinary retention in children receiving intravenous opioids is low, indicating that placement of urinary catheters is not routinely necessary in these patients. However, micturition and bladder volumes must be monitored, especially in sedated children and during the first 24 h of opioid administration.What is Known:•Great variation exists in the routine placement of urinary catheters in children receiving IV opioids.What is New:•Confirmed by ultrasound, the incidence of urinary retention in children receiving intravenous opioids in this study was 15%, indicating that placement of urinary catheters is not routinely necessary in these patients.•Children receiving continuous sedation for invasive mechanical ventilation showed a sevenfold greater risk of developing urinary retention than non-sedated patients.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research