Management of voiding dysfunction in geriatric general hospital: clinical experience of 315 cases with indwelling urethral catheter or diapers

In a geriatric general hospital, 157 patients with an indwelt urethral catheter and 158 patients using diapers were evaluated by detailed interview, urinalysis, measurement of residual urine, and cystometry during a period of 16 months from July, 1988, when the Department of Urology was established. As a result of therapeutic modalities, 94% of the patients were freed from the catheter or diapers. The indwelling catheter was found to be unnecessary in one-third of the patients. In addition, among the patients wearing diapers, one-third were capable of urinating only with the appropriate assistance of paramedical staff. It took less than 1 month for half but more than 1 year for 10% of the patients to be freed from the catheter or diapers. On the contrary, 19 patients could not be freed from the catheter or diapers, not due to bladder dysfunction but rather to mental, physical and social disabilities. These findings indicate that accurate diagnosis and management in collaboration with paramedical staff are required to solve urinating problems in the elderly.