The Use of External Urinary Catheter and its Benefits

Posted by eliteinternet on August 8th, 2018

The catheter is a permanent or an intermittent that is removed after each cauterization, always done by a trained medical officer or nurse or else it can create more challenges. The urinary catheter is a hollow, partially flexible tube which collects urine from the bladder and leads to the drainage bag. The catheters come in many sizes and types which may be made of rubber, plastic or silicone material.

Catheters are generally necessary when someone is not able to empty their bladder. If the bladder is not emptied urine can build up and lead to pressure in the kidneys. This can lead to kidney failure or permanent loss of the kidney. Most catheters are necessary until the patient regains their ability to urinate on their own. Elderly men or those with permanent injury or illness may need to use catheters for a longer time or permanently.

There are various types of catheters such as indwelling catheters, which reside in the bladder and are useful in short and long periods of time. A small balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated with water to prevent the tube from sliding out of the body.

An external catheter, which is placed outside the body, may be necessary for men who do not have urinary retention problems but have serious mental or functional disabilities. External urinary cathetersare used more often. They are often transparent, although they come in white, blue, green and other colors. The main advantage is they are made of silicon and are more resistant to wear and tear.

Short term catheters only need to be used until the bladder is empty. In case of people at home, they are trained to apply the catheter themselves with the help of a caretaker. It is done through the urethra or through a hole created in the lower abdomen. Choose the best silicone catheters for good results.

It is advisable that patients do not attempt to reuse catheters and instead use sterile catheters in order to preserve and encourage patient health and safety. When using an internal or external catheter, the person is to remain as dry as possible to ensure complete drainage. The medical officer or nurse plays an important role in bladder management, as they have the necessary knowledge and training to demonstrate clinical regulatory and financial awareness of catheter use.

The silicone catheter can be left in for 6-8 weeks in the bladder, although many brands are safer for three months as well. There is a broad range of drainage systems available and the choice will depend on an individual’s needs. Usually, body worn bags are advisable in the day time for mobility, where larger capacity bags are for night time drainage.