Early (Postoperative Day 3) Versus Standard (Postoperative Day 6) Urethral Catheter Removal After Living Donor Kidney Transplantation

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common complications after kidney transplantation and is associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and impaired graft outcomes. The duration of urethral catheterization is a modifiable risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infection. This randomized controlled trial compares early catheter removal on postoperative day 3 with standard catheter removal on postoperative day 6 in living donor kidney transplant recipients. The primary objective is to determine whether early catheter removal reduces 30-day urinary tract infections without increasing urinary complications requiring intervention.