Urinary Catheter

1. Urinary vs. suprapubic
2. Type
3. Optionally: Size
4. Lumen number
5. Catheter bag
6. Knowledge: indications for catheterization, complications of catheterization

Urinary vs. suprapubic

• Urinary is inserted up urethra.
• Suprapubic is inserted suprapubically
• Can't comment on urinary vs. suprapubic unless you can see where it goes in.
• Indications for suprapubic not urinary:
  • Obstruction.
  • Stricture.
  • Urethral injury.
  • Acute prostatitis.

Type

• Foley [brown latex]: cheapest, commonest.
• Silastic [clear silicone]: can leave in longer time than Foley with less chance of complications, like stricture.
• Special ones:
  • Teeman: tapered tip for easier insertion around prostate.
  • Coudé: angled for easier insertion around prostate.

Size

• 12 to 24 for adults.
• 12 is smallest, 24 is largest.
• 12-16 usually range, big ones used for clots.

Lumen number

• Count number of lumens [tubes] it has: single, double, or triple lumen?
• Lumen 1: for urine to drain [self catheterization often has just 1 lumen].
• Lumen 2: for inflating the balloon to hold it in place.
• Lumen 3: for irrigation [Fluid from a bag will drip through this lumen into person to wash out stuff, such as in after TURP operation].

Catheter bag

• Amount of fluid.
• Color of fluid.
• Blood visible?
• Pus visible?

Knowledge: indications for catheterization

• Post-operative to assess urinary output, perfusion.
• Prostatic obstruction:
  • BPH [most likely].
  • CA of prostate.
• Other obstructions:
  • Clots.
  • Stones.
  • Bladder CA.
• Trauma.
• Paralysis.

Knowledge: complications of catheterization

• Infection [if recatherizing in hospital, often need single dose antibiotics].
• Stricture.
• Trauma on insertion.
• Confused pt rips it out, causing trauma.
• Bladder spasm.