Early Versus Delayed Trial Without Catheter in Men With Acute Urinary Retention.

NCT ID: NCT07283484

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

478 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-08-21

Study Completion Date

2029-03-01

Brief Summary

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Acute urinary retention (AUR) is a sudden and painful condition. It occurs when a person is unable to urinate. In men, AUR is most often caused by an enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which blocks the urethra. The first steps in treatment are to insert a catheter to empty the bladder and to start medication that acts on the prostate (an alpha-blocker). After some time, the catheter is removed during a so-called "Trial Without Catheter" (TWOC) to see whether the patient can urinate normally again.

At present, it is unclear how long a catheter should remain in place before this trial is performed. In Dutch hospitals, the duration varies widely: in some hospitals, the catheter is removed after only a few days, while in others it stays in place for two weeks or longer. A longer catheter duration can cause more discomfort and complications, such as urinary tract infections or blood in the urine. Therefore, it is important to determine whether a shorter catheterization period is equally effective and safe compared to a longer one.

The RELIEF study investigates whether a short catheter duration of three days is as safe and effective as the current average of fourteen days. A total of 478 men with acute urinary retention will participate in this nationwide randomized controlled trial. All participants will receive a catheter and start (or continue) treatment with an alpha-blocker. They will then be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will have the catheter removed after three days, and the other group after fourteen days.

The main question is whether a shorter catheter duration is as successful as a longer one. Success means that the patient can urinate normally after catheter removal, without needing to have the catheter replaced. The study will also compare the number of complications, patients' experiences with the catheter, their quality of life, and the overall healthcare costs.

By conducting this study, doctors will gain better evidence on the optimal timing of catheter removal in men with AUR. The goal is to avoid unnecessarily long catheterization, reduce discomfort and complications, and improve the quality of care for men with AUR. The results of the RELIEF study may help improve the management of AUR, making care more consistent, efficient, and patient-friendly both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Detailed Description

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not aplicable

Conditions

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Acute Urinary Retention Benign Prostate Obstruction Benign Prostate Hyperplasia Benign Prostate Hypertrophy(BPH)

Keywords

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RELIEF Acute Urinary Retention Urinary Retention TWOC Trial Without Catheter bladder catheter urinary catheter catheter removal catheter withdrawal Benign prostate obstruction BPO Benign prostate hyperplasia BPH

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized, controlled, parallel-group, non-inferiority trial.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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TWOC after 3 days

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

TWOC after 3 days

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A ''trial without catheter'' (TWOC procedure) will be conducted 3 days after catheterization.

TWOC after 14 days

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

TWOC after 14 days

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A ''trial without catheter'' (TWOC procedure) will be conducted 3 days after catheterization.

Interventions

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TWOC after 3 days

A ''trial without catheter'' (TWOC procedure) will be conducted 3 days after catheterization.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

TWOC after 14 days

A ''trial without catheter'' (TWOC procedure) will be conducted 3 days after catheterization.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult men (≥18 years)
* Diagnosis of acute urinary retention (AUR) treated with a transurethral catheter (TUC) and alpha-blocker therapy (tamsulosin, silodosin, or alfuzosin)
* Mentally competent and able to understand the potential benefits and burdens of study participation
* Provision of written or digital informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Failed prior TWOC within the preceding 30 days
* Initial urinary retention volume \>1500 mL
* Neurogenic bladder dysfunction (e.g., multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, spina bifida)
* History of prostate cancer with ISUP grade group ≥2
* History of active bladder cancer or ongoing surveillance for bladder cancer
* Urinary retention occurring within 72 hours after surgery (postoperative urinary retention)
* History of lower urinary tract surgery (e.g., bladder augmentation, urethral surgery, or prostate surgery)
* AUR suspected to be caused by bladder stones
* Suspected urethral stricture, clot retention, or urosepsis
* Contraindication to alpha-blocker therapy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Alrijne Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Catharina Ziekenhuis Eindhoven

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Canisius Wilhelmina Ziekenhuis (CWZ)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Martini Hospital Groningen

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Maastricht University Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Spaarne Gasthuis

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

St Jansdal Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ziekenhuisgroep Twente

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Zuyderland Medical Centre

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Liselot Ribbert

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Liselot Ribbert

Study Director

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Bart P.W. Witte, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Isala

Marco H. Blanker, Professor, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University Medical Center Groningen

Liselot L.A. Ribbert, MD, PhD candidate

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Isala

Locations

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St. Jansdal

Harderwijk, Gelderland, Netherlands

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital

Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Zuyderland Ziekenhuis

Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Maastricht University Medical Center+

Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Catharina Hospital

Eindhoven, North Brabant, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

OLVG

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Spaarne Gasthuis

Hoofddorp, North Holland, Netherlands

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Ziekenhuisgroep Twente

Hengelo, Overijssel, Netherlands

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Isala

Zwolle, Overijssel, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Martini Hospital

Groningen, Provincie Groningen, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Alrijne Hospital

Leiderdorp, South Holland, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Netherlands

Central Contacts

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Liselot L.A. Ribbert, MD,. PhD candidate

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +31653182448

Email: [email protected]

Bart P.W. Witte, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +31886244357

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Celine ten Donkelaar, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Diederick Duijvesz, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Kevin Rademakers, MD, PhD

Role: primary

John Heesakkers, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Evert Koldewijn, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Ernst van Haarst, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Lieke Gietelink, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Christa van der Fels, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Liselot L.A. Ribbert, MD, PhD candidate

Role: primary

Jaap Poerink, MD

Role: primary

Barbara Schout, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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10390032310057

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

NL-009284

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id