New technologies have contributed to innovative solutions which reduce catheter related problems.
KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
CONTINENCE CARE
CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERMITTENT CATHETERS
MAIN FEATURES OF DIFFERENT CATHETERS
Clean intermittent catheterization is today considered the GOLDEN STANDARD for the management of neurogenic bladder1 and urine retention in the bladder.
Although this method of bladder management is safe, some complications still can occur. We must be aware that disposable urinary catheters pass through the urethra on average
- 5 times a day
- 150 times a month
- 1825 times a year
In men, whose urethra is on average 21 centimetres long, this means that with a single catheterization, 42 centimetres of tube will pass through the urethra, 210 cm in one day, 76,650 cm, or 766 meters of tube in one year, which is a length of 2.5 Eiffel towers annually.
Nevertheless, the fear of an injury is unnecessary, as many new technologies in this field have contributed to innovative solutions to reduce catheter-related problems.
However, t is important to choose the right medical device and catheterization technique.
The following are catheter characteristics that significantly affect the urethra
- hydrophilic coating
- drainage eyelets
- catheter tube flexibility
- catheter tube material
- packaging
- no-touch grip
