Objective To explore the effect of catheterization at different stages on children with congenital microtia undergoing auricle reconstruction.Methods This was a randomized controlled trial.From January to December 2022,64 patients with congenital microtia undergoing auricular reconstruction(phase 1 auricular reconstruction by skin expansion method)in Plastic and Cosmetic Laser Center of Guangdong Second People's Hospital were selected and were divided into a control group and a study group according to the random number table method,with 32 cases in each group.The included patients were(9.3±2.8)years old,with 44 boys and 20 girls.The control group underwent routine catheterization in the ward before surgery,and the study group underwent catheterization in the operating room after general anesthesia.The application effects of the two nursing models were analyzed and compared,and the changes of blood pressure and heart rate,success rate of catheterization,pain and discomfort,anxiety and fear,number of cases of urethral injury,and agitation during anesthesia resuscitation were compared between the patients with catheterization at different stages.x2 test and t test were used.Results There were statistically significant differences in the systolic blood pressure[(16.10±1.96)kPa vs.(18.14±1.83)kPa],diastolic blood pressure[(10.10±1.70)kPa vs.(10.97±1.64)kPa],and heart rate[(98.09±1.58)beats/min vs.(120.41±3.90)beats/min]in the control group before and after catheterization(t=4.303,2.083,and 30.006;all P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the systolic blood pressure[(16.39±1.80)kPa vs.(16.66±2.06)kPa],diastolic blood pressure[(10.10± 1.70)kPa vs.(10.50±1.57)kPa],or heart rate[(98.14±1.61)beats/min vs.(98.93±6.43)beats/min]in the study group before and after catheterization(t=0.558,0.978,and 0.674;all P>0.05).In the study group,there were 30,0,8,and 1 cases of one-time successful catheterization,pain and discomfort,anxiety and fear,and agitation during anesthesia resuscitation,and there were 24,26,30,and 28 cases in the control group,with statistically significant differences between the two groups(all P<0.05).Conclusion The whole-process nursing method of urethral catheterization after general anesthesia can reduce the psychological burden and complications in children with congenital microtia undergoing auricle reconstruction,and improve the comfort of urethral catheterization,which is worthy of widespread promotion and application in nursing clinic.