Following surgical decompression patients
may be trialled without the catheter to see if
bladder function returns. In many instances
the patient may not regain complete bladder
function and will have to contemplate
alternative methods to address elimination
needs. This may be through the use of
intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) or
long-term catheterisation. Patient education
surrounding bladder management should
begin in hospital as soon as possible, so that
the patient feels confident managing the
catheterisation or ISC before discharge. The
involvement of continence nurse specialists,
urologists and the community team is advised
to provide additional support for the patient
after discharge from hospital and consider
future options to optimise bladder function