During laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIH) repair, it is common practice to insert a urinary catheter (UC) to mitigate the risk of bladder injury or acute postoperative urinary retention. However, this procedure often leads to potential complications or infections. This study aims to evaluate the implications of the UC placement during LIH repair.

This retrospective, monocentric study included patients who underwent LIH repair between 01/01/2018 to 31/12/2022. Patients were divided into two groups: UC and no-UC.

212 patients were included: 119 (56 %) in the no-UC group and 93 (44 %) in the UC group. The UC group presented a higher prevalence of bilateral hernias (38.7 % vs. 52.7 %), (p = 0.01) and a greater frequency of intraperitoneal approach (TAPP) (83.9 % vs. 100 %), (p = 0.01). No intraoperative complications were attributable to the absence of the UC. Four patients in the UC group had postoperative acute urinary retention necessitating intermittent catheterization, allowing discharge (p = 0.13). Rates of readmission and reoperation rates were comparable between groups. One month post-surgery, 7.5 % of UC group patients (vs. 0.8 %) developed urinary tract infection (p = 0.01). Subgroup analysis confirmed a higher incidence of urinary tract infections in unilateral hernia and in TAPP procedure.

Routine UC insertion during LIH repair seems unnecessary; rather, it increases the risk of postoperative urinary tract infections and should thus be avoided.