What is Urinary Catheterization?

Urinary catheterization is the process of inserting a catheter into a person’s bladder through his or her urethra. Urinary catheters then act as the medium through which urine from the bladder collects in bag or a container attached to the catheter.

Urinary catheterization is performed for a variety of reasons—to maintain urine output in patients who are undergoing some surgical procedure, to monitor the output of urine in severely ill patients, and on bed-ridden patients who are unable to physically use the bedpan. In particular, urinary catheterization is done on patients suffering from chronic or acute urinary retention problems, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other bladder and prostate conditions. Certain other medical conditions like dementia, multiple sclerosis, and injuries to the spinal cord also demand the use of urinary catheters on patients. They are also inserted on patients to inject them with liquids used for treating or diagnosing bladder conditions.   

Urinary catheters may be permanent (indwelling catheters) or temporary ones that are removed after every catheterization process. A Foley catheter is an indwelling type which sits in place with the aid of a balloon at the tip. The balloon contains sterilized water and is usually made of silicone or natural rubber. On the other hand, the Robinson catheter is a temporary or intermittent catheter that does not have a balloon at its tip and hence cannot stay in place.

Urinary catheterization is considered a sterile medical procedure and hence must be performed only by qualified medical professionals or care givers. Self-catheterization is also possible and is in fact, a viable option for patients who require intermittent catheterization. However, these patients must be thoroughly trained in the process by a qualified professional.

Urinary catheterization comes with the risk of patients developing urinary tract infection (UTI). So health care professionals and the patients themselves must ensure that the catheter is kept clean and absolutely free of bacteria at all times. In fact, health care professionals should make it a point to educate the patients on the maintenance and care routine, like cleansing the region from which the catheter exits the body, the catheter itself, and cleaning the hands before disconnecting the drainage bag or container from the catheter.

Proper insertion of the most suitable catheter and careful maintenance ensures that urinary catheterization is a painless process.