A catheter is a special medical tube designed to empty the body or insert instruments through it during surgery. The administration steps are called “catheterization”. The catheter itself is a thin hollow tube.
So the urethral catheter helps to reach the cavity of the bladder without disturbing its walls, for emptying from urine. This procedure is used both for diagnostic and medical purposes. Manipulation helps to remove the accumulated fluid from the bladder and, if necessary, introduce drugs into its empty cavity.
Procedure appointment
The urethral catheter is used by doctors in the following cases:
- Urinary retention is a chronic or acute phase that is caused by tumor blockage, narrowing of the canal, innervation of the urethra associated with back injuries.
- In inflammatory processes of the urinary canal with a view to washing it.
- If necessary, diagnose urinary fluid.
Varieties of catheter devices
Medical types of catheters are classified by the number of excretory channels, by their diameter and shape, angle of inclination and principle of fixation.
Devices for the withdrawal of urinary fluid are made of:
- elastic materials: silicone, rubber (soft catheters);
- hard - plastic alloys or metal.
Urethral catheters are also distinguished for temporary and permanent use. Types of catheters for medical manipulation are determined by a urologist, and a nurse is also able to introduce a device.
In most cases, urinary retention is eliminated using a soft catheter, which looks like an elastic tube with a diameter of up to 10 mm. One end of the tube is rounded and has a side hole, and the other is made with an expanded funnel-shaped shape. This makes it easy to insert a syringe filled with drugs into it. In use, the device is sterilized in boiling water, then dried. Prepared catheters are stored in specialized boxes filled with carbolic solution or boric acid.
In other cases, urinary retention is eliminated by rigid devices.
The procedure for the "weaker sex"
The manipulation of urine excretion in women is not particularly difficult. A female urological catheter can be either soft or hard. It is introduced into the urethral canal pre-treated with an antiseptic. The first drops of urine indicate the beginning of urination.
Procedure for the "stronger sex"
The physiological feature of men complicates the process of catheterization somewhat. After all, the length of the male urethra is almost 15 cm longer than the female. Obstruct the ease of holding and two constrictions in the genitals, so the male urological catheter is more elongated.
The doctor stops the choice on the material of the device, guided by the condition of the patient. So men who have prostate adenoma are prescribed a stiff version of the catheter. It is administered only by a doctor, since this manipulation is complex and requires special skill and caution. An incorrectly inserted metal urethral catheter can cause a number of complications in a patient.
Possible complications after the procedure
Any medical manipulations using special devices can cause certain complications, not exclusion and catheterization. The causes of complications include:
- non-compliance with aseptic norms;
- the use of unreasonable force when entering the device.
Complications resulting from violations of the device administration rules are expressed in the manifestation of infectious cystitis, urethritis and pyelonephritis. With an extremely inept catheter insertion, manifestations of a violation of the integrity of the urinary canal and rupture of the bladder are possible . The use of soft models of the device, several times reduce the occurrence of complications.
IMPORTANT! A urethral catheter is not used in the presence of diseases of the urinary system.
Catheter removal procedure
If the device is delivered after surgery, you can remove it only after the doctor’s recommendation. Since the type of central and peripheral venous catheter is removed only by a doctor, independent actions will lead to side complications.
After receiving the advice of the attending physician, the patient’s confident devices are able to remove on their own and replace them with new ones, it is only important to strictly comply with the rules of antiseptics and control your well-being. Used disposable catheters are disposed of, reusable sterilized and stored until their next use.
After the treatment period
As a rule, after prolonged use of the device, inflammatory processes of the urinary canal occur. So the body reacts to the presence of a foreign body in it. Doctors advise after the procedure to carry out warm baths with a solution of potassium permanganate. Well remove inflammation infusions of chamomile, sage and St. John's wort. Places of irritation may be lubricated with baby cream. For preventive purposes during this period it is recommended to wear spacious linen made from natural fibers. You should temporarily abandon artificial materials, since wearing such products will only aggravate the situation and entail even more inflammation.
If there is a high temperature, you should immediately consult a doctor, for sure this fact indicates the development of infectious inflammation in the urinary sphere.
Warm shower procedures will not be superfluous, but the bath should be abandoned.
Carefully monitor the color of urine, at first it may have a pinkish tint, but this is normal. If the color turns red - you should notify the doctor.
Often, irritation may appear around the place where the urethral catheter stood. Wear cotton underwear as it allows air to enter the damaged area and it will heal faster.
Urethral catheter contraindications
The catheterization procedure is contraindicated for people suffering from:
- infectious urethritis;
- spasms of the urinary sphincter;
- manifestations of anuria.
Do you know that ...
- The male urological catheter is about 30 cm long and the female is about 15 cm long.
- The most popular and most used in urology is the Foley catheter.
- The longest devices are used to access the central veins.
- Any catheter requires reliable fixation. Typically, a patch is used for this.
- The safest and less traumatic, in our time, is the Malecot and Petzer system.
- There are also adaptations for the heart. These are soft, flexible inflated balloon with catheters on top. Their name is the Swan-Ganz catheter. They are used to examine the pulmonary heart artery.