Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of an improved catheter removal technique on reducing the extubation-related complications in the elderly patients undergoing neurointerventional surgery. Methods Thirty patients with urinary catheters after neurointerventional procedures from December 2020 to June 2021 in our hospital were selected as the intervention group, and another 30 patients were selected as the control group matched by gender, age and other conditions. In the control group, urinary catheters were removed according to the traditional standardized method. In the intervention group, an improved catheter removal technique was applied. All patients underwent mental urination training. Pain intensity during catheter removal, urinary tract irritation, and urination approaches after catheter removal were compared. Results The mean pain index during catheter removal and the rate of urinary tract irritation in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The proportions of the patients with self-urination, induced urination and urinary retention showed significant differences between the intervention group and the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions This improved catheter removal technique can relieve the pain and reduce the complications in the elderly patients undergoing neurointerventional surgery.

Key words: improved catheter removal technique, pain, urinary tract irritation, urinary retention