Optimal Duration of Indwelling Urinary Catheter Following Pelvic Surgery

There is no general agreement about the optimal duration of postoperative urinary drainage, with relevant literature reporting durations ranging from 1 to 10 days. The available research supporting the routine use of prolonged catheterization is limited and studies investigating early removal following infraperitoneal colorectal surgery have largely been underpowered to form valid practice conclusions. The aim of the investigators study is to determine whether a postoperative colorectal patient can safely have an indwelling catheter removed on postoperative day one (24 hours following surgery) with the addition of a study medication (prazosin), without a statistically significant difference in the incidence of urinary retention compared to the standard, accepted approach of delayed removal (72 hours postoperatively). Patients undergoing laparoscopic and open pelvic colorectal surgery below the peritoneal reflection for both benign and malignant conditions will be randomized into two groups: group one will have the catheter removed on postoperative day 3 (72 hours postoperatively) Group 2 will have a dose of the alpha-blocker prazosin given 6 hours prior to catheter removal and will have the urinary catheter removed on postoperative day 1 (24 hours postoperatively).