The Complete Guide to Urinary catheterization 

Understanding Urinary catheterization is a common medical procedure that helps people who can’t have their bladders emptied easily. In spite of urinary tract infections and other medical problems, urethral catheterization is essential to control urine retention and promote healthy kidney function. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the various aspects of urological catheterization including types, techniques, benefits and possible consequences.  

Urinary Catheter Types

medicals are several types of urinary catheters, each meeting distinct requirements and preferences. When choosing the best alternative, it is essential for patients and healthcare practitioners to comprehend the distinctions between various catheters. The main categories of urinary catheters are as follows:

•  Foley’s Catheters –

One of the most popular kinds of urinary catheters is the indwelling catheter, sometimes referred to as a Foley catheter. A retention balloon on these catheters keeps them firmly in place inside the bladder. Although they can occasionally be introduced through a suprapubic incision, Foley catheters are usually inserted through the urethra. Since they are made to drain continuously, they are frequently chosen for long-term usage in hospitalized patients or those who have problems with urine retention.

Here a Chart of Foley’s Catheter Size with its color

1.   12 French          –         White
2.   14 French          –         Green
3.   16 French          –         Orange
4.   18 French          –         Red
5.   20 French          –        Yellow
6.   22 French           –       Purple
7.   24 French           –        Blue
8.   26 French           –       Pink
9.   28 French           –       Black
10.   30 French           –       Green with black stripe

• Intermittently Catheters-

One kind of urinary catheter used for temporary [Short-term] bladder emptying is the intermittent catheter. Intermittent catheters are implanted just when necessary and withdrawn once the bladder is emptied, in contrast to indwelling catheters, which stay in the bladder continually.

How its use
Urinary fluids are drained from the bladder intermittently by passing a catheter via the urethra. After the bladder has been emptied, the catheter is withdrawn, enabling the person to continue regular activities without it.

• condom-using catheters-

For male patients who need urine drainage, external catheters, sometimes referred to as condom catheters, provide a non-invasive alternative. Condom catheters offer an excellent and practical alternative to standard indwelling catheters, which are placed inside the bladder, by being worn externally.

Style and Purpose
A flexible silicone or latex sheath that fits over the penis like a condom makes up a condom catheter. Urine is directed into a leg bag or collecting bag that is covertly worn beneath clothes via a drainage tube that is attached to the sheath. The danger of skin irritation or harm is decreased by the design of condom catheters, which firmly stick to the skin without the need for tape or glue.

• The suprapubic catheter

A small incision is made in the lower abdomen right above the pubic bone, to surgically introduce a suprapubic catheter, a kind of urine catheter, into the bladder. This catheterization technique offers a different path for pee drainage, avoiding the urethra completely. Patients who are unable to pee via the usual urethral pathway because of a variety of medical illnesses or anatomical anomalies sometimes utilize suprapubic catheters.