Why should a patient void before surgery?

it's a way of preventing post-op urinary retention, which can result from the anesthesia.

leslie

thankz!

I always thought it was so it wasn't the first thing they wanted to do immediately post-op after recovery but that's good sense too.

A FULL bladder pushes on other abdominal organs and can distort internal anatomy. Also, even though urine is sterile, they do not want the patient to accidentally pass urine during the procedure and contaminate the field. Wet=NOT sterile any longer.

Are we doing your homework?

I thought it was to reduce the risk of bladder perforation.

I thought it was to reduce the risk of bladder perforation.

This is ALSO correct. All the responses are correct, but this is not a "do my hw for me site".:angryfire

To the original poster...your question sounded so much like a homework question that I looked to see what else you've posted in allnurse.com. You have posted 4 times and 3 of those posts seem to be homework questions (the other thanks someone for an answer). Please don't ask us to do your homework.

To the original poster...your question sounded so much like a homework question that I looked to see what else you've posted in allnurse.com. You have posted 4 times and 3 of those posts seem to be homework questions (the other thanks someone for an answer). Please don't ask us to do your homework.

Problem solving and critical thinking are part of the nursing process. Plus, you retain information much better when you do the research. Enjoy your homework.

I always thought it was so it wasn't the first thing they wanted to do immediately post-op after recovery but that's good sense too.

Unfortunately the removing the catheter right before the patient wakes up makes them feel like they have to go as soon as they wake up. Or maybe it was just me. My first laproscopy sp?I woke up with an urgent sensation that I had to pee and I asked them if I could, they insisted my bladder was just emptied and I didn't need to go but the urge was very strong and looking back I was probably a PITA patient because I said no I need to go, they wanted me to use a bed pan in a room with a few patients that were just coming out of surgery and I would have no privacy and I refused, I am a VERY modest person, (it was horrifying enough to realize my gown was on backwards which meant it was OFF at one point. I understand why of course but still horrifying for me none the less). Anyway, I kept insisting and so finally someone gave me privacy and a bed pan and I was able to void.

When I had to go on for another Lapro and I woke up with that urgent feeling again I knew to expect it and what it was from so I just dealt with it. Although initially if they would have explained to me that the Catheter can cause it to feel that way I would have been cool the first time. Maybe it is not a common side effect though, I don't know, but it's been that way for me every time.

Well what kind of surgery are you talking about?

If you meant abdominal surgery than the reason that patient must void is simply to avoid puncturing the bladder,other than anasthesia tends to retain urine,and you definitely dont want your patient's bladder to rupture or get a nasty urinary infection.