Indications for insertion of indwelling urinary catheter*

a) Patient has acute urinary retention or obstruction

b) Urinary output monitoring in critically ill patients

c) Peri-operative use for selective surgical procedures†

* Urological surgery or surgery involving other contiguous structures of genitourinary tract
* Prolonged duration of surgery (removed in recovery)
* Large volumes of infusions or diuretics administered intra-operatively
* Operative patients with urinary incontinence
* Need for intraoperative monitoring of output

d) Healing of wounds (sacral/perianal) in incontinent patients (as part of a holistic plan)

Patient

e) Patient requiring prolonged immobilisation (e.g. potentially unstable thoracic or lumbar spine, multiple traumatic injuries such as pelvic fractures)^

f) Exceptional circumstances, e.g. comfort at end of life

†In these settings the catheter should be removed within 24 h post-operatively where possible.
^Avoid using indwelling urinary catheters for the management of incontinence. This includes residential aged care residents.

*From the ASID (HICSIG)/AICA Position Statement: Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in patients