Refers to a tube placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder.
Utilized for urinary incontinence, urinary retention, and following surgery on the prostate.
It is used in patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or dementia.
There are three main types of catheters: indwelling, condom catheter and intermittent catheters.
An indwelling urinary catheter is one that is left in the bladder for variable lengths of time.
An indwelling catheter is attached to a drainage bag, and may be inserted into the bladder through the urethra or through the abdominal wall into the bladder.
Indwelling catheters have a balloon at its end to prevent dislodgment.
Condom catheters use a condom-like device is placed over the penis, and are most often used in male patients with dementia.
There are two types of drainage bags: A leg bag holds about 300 to 500 ccs of urine which allows mobility, and a larger drainage bag to be used over night.
Complications of catheter use include: allergy or sensitivity to latex, development of badder stones or sediment, urinary tract and systemic infections, hematuria, urethral injury, bladder spasms, and urinary leakage.
The duration of urinary catheter use is the most important risk factor for catheter associated UTIs.
Should be limited in number of patients that receive catheters and they should be removed promptly when no longer needed.
As many as 97% of nosocomial UTIs are associated with urinary tract instrumentation accounting for up to 40% of nosocomial infections annually in US hospitals.