ObjectiveTo analyze the causes and potential risk factors of re-catheterization after failure of no urinary catheter in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 1 618 patients without urinary catheter indwelling during the perioperative period of thoracic surgery in our hospital from 2013 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 791 males and 827 females, with a median age of 58 years, ranging from 27 to 85 years. And the risk factors for re-insertion after failure of urinary catheter were investgated.ResultsThe rate of catheter re-insertion was 1.5% (24/1 618). Compared with patients without re-insertion, patients with re-insertion had longer operation time [120.0 (95.0, 130.0) min vs. 120.0 (115.0, 180.0) min, P=0.015] and more intraoperative fluid infusion [800.0 (600.0, 1 100.0) mL vs. 1 150.0 (725.0, 1 350.0) mL, P=0.008]. Further multivariate analysis found that the operation time (OR=1.014, P=0.004, 95%CI 1.005-1.024) and intraoperative fluid infusion (OR=1.001, P=0.022, 95%CI 1.001–1.002) were independent risk factors for re-insertion.ConclusionThe rate of catheter re-insertion in lung cancer patients is relatively low, and conventional no placement of catheter is safe and feasible after lung cancer surgery. Increasing operation time or intraoperative infusion volume may increase the risk of catheter re-insertion after lung cancer surgery.