Discontinuation of Urinary Catheters Within Two Days of Surgery

Patients undergoing surgery are often given a catheter to allow their bladders to empty during surgical procedures. If a urinary catheter stays in place too long, the patient runs the risk of developing an infection of the urinary tract. The risk of developing a urinary tract infection goes up with the amount of time that a urinary catheter stays in place.

The chart below compares the number of patients whose urinary catheter was removed within two days after surgery at Cedars-Sinai with the rate at other hospitals nationally and in California.

A higher number is better than a lower number.