What is a catheter
A urinary catheter is a hollow tube that drains urine from the bladder into a bag. If a catheter is not inserted for a patient who cannot urinate independently, urine would accumulate in the bladder and urinary tract, potentially leading to kidney failure. The insertion of a catheter is also referred to as catheterization. Catheters can be either disposable or permanently inserted. A disposable catheter is typically used to empty the bladder or collect sterile urine from patients after surgery. A permanent catheter is usually used for patients who, for various reasons, cannot urinate or cannot retain urine. The catheter is connected to a urine collection bag or has a removable cap, allowing the senior to release urine themselves when feeling a full bladder.
The goal of catheterization is to empty the bladder, collect a sample of sterile urine for examination, flush the bladder, determine the amount of residual urine after urination, or apply a contrast agent into the bladder before an examination.
Types of Urinary Catheters
The Nelaton catheter is a straight catheter with a length of 24 to 36 cm and is made from a soft material. It is used for single-use catheterization in children and pregnant women.
The Tiemann catheter is a curved catheter that ends with a ball. It is used for catheterization in men with an enlarged prostate.
The Mercier catheter is a less flexible catheter and is bent at a blunt angle.
The metal catheter in the shape of the letter S is used in men with a narrowed urethra.
A Foley catheter (balloon catheter) is a catheter that has a small balloon near the opening, which is filled with sterile water after insertion into the bladder, preventing it from falling out.
A condom catheter is applied directly to the male genitalia. These catheters are more comfortable than those inserted into the urethra, but they need to be changed every day.
A suprapubic catheter is a catheter that is inserted through a small incision in the abdominal cavity.
Risks Associated with Catheterization
Common issues in patients with a catheter include urinary tract and bladder infections. In cases of careless catheter insertion, patients experience pain and there may be mechanical damage to the urethra. The size of the catheter is also important. If the wrong size is chosen, urine may leak around the catheter.
A catheter is a foreign object to the human body. A serious complication of long-term use in men is the narrowing of the urethra. Long-term use of a catheter also weakens the bladder muscle and reduces bladder capacity. Therefore, if possible, emptying should be achieved by other, less risky means.
Care for Patients with Catheters
If a catheter is permanently placed in a patient, it must be regularly replaced to prevent infection. Replacement intervals vary and depend mainly on the type of catheter. Most commonly, it is around 2-3 weeks, but some types can remain for up to three months. The caregiver's responsibility is to connect the urinary bag to the catheter, empty it, and replace it. It is important to monitor urine production, its color, and daily volume. If the urinary bag is a drainage type, it is replaced approximately two times a month, or more frequently depending on contamination levels.