Frequently Asked Questions on Urinary Catheters

What is a urinary catheter?

A catheter is a hollow tube that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to remove urine from your bladder. It is made of latex, silicone or Teflon and is inserted into the body creating a channel for the passage of fluid or the entry of a medical device. It can be left in place for hours or days to alleviate your need to go to the bathroom or to use a bed pan if you are restricted to bed or are numb and cannot feel the need to urinate.

What is urinary catheterization?

Urinary catheterization is a medical procedure that is used to drain out urine from the bladder for those who are unable to pass urine on their own either post surgery or because of some medical condition. It involves inserting a tube into the bladder through which the urine flows out into a collection bag .

What are the types of urinary catheterization?

Short-term catheterization: Short-term catheterization may be needed to remove urine from the bladder for a brief period under the following conditions:

- If there is something stopping you emptying your bladder normally when there is a blockage

- If it is unable to generate enough force to propel urine down the waterpipe

- If the urethra has become blocked because of scarring, prostate enlargement or a stone

- During and after some types of surgery

- To obtain a clean urine sample to test for bacterial infections

Long-term catheterization: Long-term catheterization implies keeping the catheter inserted for a longer period of time under the following conditions: 

- When a person is confined to bed and is too weak to go to the toilet

- As a treatment for urinary incontinence when other types of treatment have failed

- If a person is unable to empty their bladder because of bladder weakness or nerve damage

What is self-catheterization?

If you require urinary catheterization for a long time, you may be trained to insert a catheter when needed. This is known as self-catheterization and involves catheterization for a short period to allow the bladder to empty before the catheter is removed. This is likely to be done several times a day and avoids the problems associated with permanent catheterization.

What are the types of urinary catheters?

There are five types of urinary catheters:

• Foley catheter or indwelling catheter:
  It is a catheter that remains in place for an extended period of time. The catheter is attached to a collection bag where urine can be emptied periodically. The tip of the catheter is inserted into the urethra and up into the bladder, where a small balloon is inflated to keep it in place.
• Straight catheter or intermittent catheter:
  A straight catheter is inserted into the urethra and up in to the bladder then removed when the bladder has drained completely. It is not kept in the bladder for extended periods of time. Straight catheters are intended to be used only once but for some patients who must use a straight catheter throughout the day at home, it may be sterilized and reused.
• External or condom catheter:
  A condom catheter is not inserted into the bladder but placed on the penis much like a condom would be, to collect urine into an attached bag. This type of a catheter is only used in males and worn through the day to collect urine during episodes of incontinence.

What is French catheter scale (Fr)?

The French catheter scale, or French unit (Fr), is commonly used to measure the outside diameter of needles, catheters and other cylindrical medical instruments. 1 French Gauge (Fr) of diameter size equals 0.33 millimeters (mm) in length. Thus, the size in French units is roughly equal to the circumference of the catheter in millimeters.

What are the different sizes of catheters?

A catheter is available in different diameter sizes and higher the number, the larger the diameter of the tube. The sizes are: 5 Fr, 6 Fr, 8 Fr 10 Fr, 12 Fr, 14 Fr, 16 Fr, 18 Fr, 20 Fr, 22 Fr, 24 Fr, 26 Fr.

What are the features we should look out for in a catheter?

A catheter should be flexible in nature in order to adjust to the urethral contours. The material should be biocompatible, so that it does not cause allergic reactions, and also be temperature-resistant. The catheter you buy should be ready to use and one which does not require any 'handling' to avoid risk of infection.

How is a urinary catheter placed?

A catheter is placed into the urinary bladder using sterile technique and lubricant. Gloves should be worn in order to prevent infection in the patient. The tip of the tube is generously coated with the lubricant before insertion and the balloon inflated with the correct amount of sterile liquid so that it stays snug against the bladder neck. Most catheters are inserted into the urethra and then gently threaded through the urethra into the bladder.

How is a urinary catheter removed?

A catheter is very easy to remove. If there is a balloon at the tip of the catheter, the balloon is deflated and then the catheter gently pulled to remove it from the body. The process is usually painless unless there is irritation present in the urinary tract. If the process is painful, a topical medication can be used to numb the area.

What could be the reasons for my catheter to not function properly?

There could be several reasons as to why your catheter's function is not smooth.

• You have to check if the catheter tubing is twisted or bent. Sometimes if the catheter is twisted it will not allow the urine to flow smoothly. 
• If the urine collection bag is placed higher than the waist level then, too, urine flow will not occur. The bag must be placed below waist level.
• If the catheter still continues to not function then check in case the tubing is stuck under your body. Sometimes, unknowingly the catheter tube is pushed under your body and your whole weight is pressing down upon it. In that case, it will not function properly.
If all these possibilities are ruled out and the catheter is still not working, then call your healthcare practitioner right away.

Will a catheter cause too much of a discomfort?

Catheterization is likely to be uncomfortable because it involves a tube pushed into the urethra. And even after it has been inserted, it will cause some discomfort while in place. A condom catheter, on the other hand, does not cause much discomfort because it is placed externally. 

Will using a catheter help in incontinence treatment?

No. Using a catheter just helps to manage incontinence and not cure it. Inserting a catheter into the bladder will help drain the accumulated urine and thereby, prevent incontinent issues like leakage, frequent or urgent calls and loss of bladder control.