Foley catheters are not routinely necessary in children treated with patient-controlled analgesia following perforated appendicitis

Retrospective two-center study of 313 pediatric patients with perforated appendicitis receiving postoperative PCA found routine Foley catheterization unnecessary. Despite significant practice variation between institutions (13% vs 78% catheter use), urinary retention rates were low and comparable, suggesting selective rather than routine catheterization is appropriate.