If a person has a urinary retention for a number of reasons, doctors decide to install a ureteral catheter. This design is also used for the introduction of certain drugs, or in the study of the urinary system. This is a surgical procedure in which all antiseptic rules must be followed. It is also worth knowing that in a number of conditions of the body the procedure may be contraindicated, for example, with inflammation of the urinary system in the acute stage.
Varieties of Catheters
The catheter itself looks like a tube with two holes on the sides. Buying this device, you can notice the color marking of the catheter, it is needed in order to choose the right device for the left or right ureter.
Soft rubber products are produced for catheterization, but constructions made of hard material are also found.
In a soft device, the rubber tube has a length of up to 25 cm and a diameter of 0.3-10 mm. If we consider it together with the tube, then the average length of the ureter catheter is 70 cm.
Varieties:
- A conical catheter called a Nelaton catheter.
- Ureteric polymer catheter.
- The catheter is self-locking.
- For urethra Whistle-tip.
- Foley.
- Ureteric catheter "Medpolymer".
Devices differ in size, shape, length and number of channels.
Catheters differ in sexual purpose and age, that is, there are children's and adult devices, female and male. Catheters are installed by bed patients, people in a coma, with damage to the spine or with a violation of cerebral circulation.
What is used for
Most often, the catheter is used in two ways - for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment. During fluoroscopy, catheterization is also used, since the device has good conductivity.
The ureteral catheter can be inserted in the following situations:
- To get high-quality biological material in clinical trials.
- To detect the presence of urological diseases, for example, the pathological condition of the kidneys or bladder. In this case, a ureteral radiopaque catheter is used.
- To receive urine from a single kidney, a catheter is inserted directly into one of the kidneys.
- To check the general patency of urine through the urinary tract and, if necessary, in order to release the pelvis from the accumulation of urine.
- To inject drugs directly into the urethra.
- During certain operations, for example, to install a ureteral catheter for ureterocutaneostomy.
A catheter can also be used for urinary incontinence. In this case, the tube is inserted for a long period, periodically it is removed and washed with disinfectants. This is done so that the infection does not develop at the injection site of the catheter.
Thanks to the ureteric instrument, an accurate diagnosis can be made for diseases of the urinary system.
How is catheterization
The introduction of a catheter is carried out differently in women and men, since the structure of the urinary system is different for them. But the unifying point is the lubrication of the tip of the system with a special antibacterial ointment. In order not to damage the genitals, sterile petroleum jelly is used.
Between the legs of the patient is placed a container for collecting urine. If the catheter is inserted correctly, then the person does not feel pain, just as there is no bleeding. Before the introduction of the catheter, it should be checked for leaks and the remaining air released.
The medical workers themselves must carry out all necessary sanitary actions:
- Wash hands thoroughly.
- Treat them with alcohol and iodine.
- To treat the external genitalia of the patient.
Catheter insertion and removal sequence
The doctor grabs the catheter with tweezers, the ureteric stent is inserted into the bladder with a gentle movement. The appearance of a small amount of urine in it indicates the correct introduction of the device.
In the male, catheterization is a little more complicated. The thin tip that will be inserted into the urethra should not have kinks.
The mucous membrane of the urethra is very sensitive to various kinds of interventions. Therefore, in order not to injure it again when the catheter is removed, a solution of furacilin is first introduced into the bladder with a thin syringe. Only then can the previously installed device be removed.
If it is a reusable catheter, then it must immediately be placed in a soapy solution. After that, the system is boiled, and then placed in a solution of boric acid. Storage utensils must be airtight.
Disposable ureteral catheters must not be re-sterilized; they must be disposed of after use.
All steps for installing and removing a catheter are performed exclusively by a doctor.
Positive and negative sides
A cystoma or ureteral catheter has its advantages and disadvantages. The positive side of this method include:
- Reliability of the method.
- Damage to the urinary tract rarely occurs.
- The design is easy to use and does not require special care.
- Does not affect the intimate relationship of a person.
- If the tube is closed, there is another way to empty the bladder.
But there are also disadvantages to catheterization:
- An ureteral catheter cannot be used for overweight people.
- The external opening of the cystoma often gets wet.
- Possible complications if the tube was inserted incorrectly.
- If saline is present, they may clog the hole.
- The body can negatively react to the presence of a foreign object in the body.
What to do after removing the tool
As it was found out, catheters can have different purposes and are installed at different times. Everything will depend on the diagnosis made to the patient and the severity of his condition.
Silicone devices can be used up to 30 days. Latex catheters are used up to one week. A silver coated catheter can be used for 3 months. The duration of use of the device will be decided by the doctor.
After the catheter is removed, inflammation may begin, in order to avoid this, it is recommended to make baths with potassium permanganate or chamomile. If you do not often make them possible, then regular treatment of the genitals with a sterile swab dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate or a decoction of chamomile is carried out. Such procedures will be needed for the next few days after removal of the tube.
Undesirable consequences
Like any other medical procedure, catheterization can cause some complications:
- Damage to the urethra - this can happen if the cystoscope advances quickly and with pressure. Either Vaseline or glycerin oil was not used. A similar complication arises when using a rigid catheter, or not selected in size. The patient may experience bleeding. The procedure stops immediately.
- The inflammatory process in the epididymis - this happens if the rules of asepsis and antiseptics have been violated. As a result of this, a secondary infection develops and inflammation joins.
- Injury to the integrity of the ureter wall - with this complication, urine can begin to flow into the abdominal cavity. As a result, internal organs are damaged and a purulent focus is formed.
- Failures in the kidneys - this happens with a quick emptying of the urethra. Often, such negative consequences occur in elderly patients with concomitant diseases of the cardiovascular and genitourinary system.
- Hyperthermia syndrome - in this case, the general condition suffers. The temperature of the body rises, blood pressure, there is a strong sweating. All this develops against the background of the penetration of bacteria from the urethra into the human bloodstream.
Contraindications for catheterization
Before proceeding to the catheterization procedure, the doctor inquires the patient in detail about the presence of diseases and individual characteristics of the body. All this is due to the fact that there are a number of contraindications for the installation of a catheter. Among them:
- A disease such as anuria, in which urine is absent in the bladder.
- Infectious urethritis.
- Spasm in the urethral sphincter. It is permissible to carry out catheterization in this condition only after taking antispasmodics.
- A number of diseases of the genitourinary system.
Side effects
These include:
- self-prolapse of the catheter tube;
- spastic syndrome;
- skin irritation at the injection site of the catheter;
- the patient loses the possibility of self-urination.
If all the rules for the establishment of a cytostomy were provided, then the patient should not feel pain during its introduction and further discomfort after the procedure.
The entire catheterization and catheter removal procedure is performed under local anesthesia. The doctor must tell the patient about further actions, give recommendations for the care of the urinary system so that the infection does not join. Any changes in this area should be urgently reported to the doctor.