The role of ureteral catheters in left-sided colectomies and proctectomies remains debated. Given the rarity of ureteral injury, prior retrospective studies were underpowered to detect potentially small, but meaningful differences. This study seeks to determine the role and morbidity of ureteral catheters in left-sided colectomy and proctectomy using a large, national database.

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Project from 2012 to 2018 was queried. Left-sided colectomies or proctectomies were included. Propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed.

8419 patients with ureteral catherization and 128,021 patients without catheterization were included. After matching, there was not a significant difference in ureteral injury between the groups (0.7% with vs 0.9% without, p = 0.07). Ureteral catheters were associated with increased overall morbidity and longer operative time. Increasing body mass index, operations for diverticular disease, conversion to open, T4 disease and increasing operative complexity were associated with ureteral injury (p < 0.01 for all).

Ureteral catheterization was not associated with decreased rates of ureteral injury when including all left-sided colectomies. High-risk patients for ureteral injury include those with obesity, diverticular disease, and conversion to open. Selective ureteral catheterization may be warranted in these settings.