Bladder Catheters: Use & Health Benefits

A urinary catheter is a medical instrument used for passive emptying of the urinary bladder. Likewise, urine collection is possible with it.

What is a urinary catheter?

A urinary catheter is a medical instrument for passive emptying of the urinary bladder. A bladder catheter refers to a tube or pipe made of plastic. This instrument is used for emptying, filling, flushing or probing the human urinary bladder. In addition to plastic, the material of the catheter can also be silicone, glass, latex or metal. A bladder catheter is primarily used to drain accumulated urine from the bladder. This is necessary when the person concerned is no longer able to empty his bladder independently. A bladder catheter can be used for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Bladder catheters were already used in ancient times. The oldest instrument of this type, made of bronze, was found in Pompeii. The late antique physician Oreibasios (325-403 A.D.) used a parchment, which he fixed with a goose quill. After insertion into the urethra, this early bladder catheter remained in the urethra for three days, causing the parchment to swell and thereby dilate the urethra. In the 19th century, the manufacture of bladder catheters made of rubber took place. The balloon catheter in use today was made by the US urologist Frederic Eugene Basil Foley (1891-1966), who manufactured it in 1927 and used it as an indwelling catheter.

Shapes, types, and styles

Bladder catheters can be divided into disposable or indwelling transurethral catheters and suprapubic catheters. Medicine resorts to indwelling catheters to ensure permanent drainage of urine. Disposable catheters, on the other hand, are used to drain urine once or to make a diagnosis. A transurethral bladder catheter is inserted into the bladder via the urethra. A distinction is made between disposable and permanent transurethral catheters. The indwelling catheters are also called indwelling catheters. They have a balloon at their tip and are therefore self-retaining. Today, transurethral indwelling catheters are basically balloon catheters. They have different shapes at their tip. Depending on how many openings they have, they are referred to as a 2-way catheter or a 3-way catheter. A 2-way catheter has a channel that is used to drain urine and a channel through which the balloon is filled. It acts as a permanent drain for the urine. A 3-way catheter is also called an irrigation catheter and is also equipped with a third channel that can be used to introduce irrigation solutions. It is mainly used in urology following transurethral surgery when there is more severe bleeding in the bladder. Irrigation can counteract the clotting of blood within the urinary bladder. A suprapubic urinary catheter is a catheter that is intended for permanent urine drainage. It differs from transurethral catheters in that its insertion is not through a natural opening. Instead, it enters the bladder through the abdominal wall above the pubic region.

Structure and mode of operation

The construction and materials of a bladder catheter have been subject to various changes throughout the history of the instrument. In the early days, only glass or various metals were used. Later, physicians resorted to rubber. Nowadays, silicone, latex or PVC are used instead of rubber. Modern catheters now also have a hydrophilic coating. This increases the gliding properties of the instrument. Catheters for long-term use can also be equipped with coatings of diamond-like carbon. This reduces the colonization of germs. Which material is ultimately most suitable for use depends on the duration of catheter use. The insertion of a catheter into the bladder must always be sterile. Otherwise there is a risk that harmful germs can colonize the bladder. If the catheter is a transurethral catheter, the urethral region is disinfected with a mucosal antiseptic. The subsequent step is the insertion of a lubricant gel into the urethra.The bladder catheter can then be inserted into the urethra. Once the catheter is at its destination, the existing balloon is filled with sterile water. Suprapubic catheter insertion must be done under local anesthesia.

Medical and health benefits

A urinary catheter can fulfill great medical benefits. For example, it is one of the standard methods for both therapeutic procedures and diagnostic procedures. A urinary catheter is always used when the patient is no longer able to urinate independently. This circumstance can occur, for example, due to enlargement of the male prostate, neurogenic bladder emptying disorders, urinary bladder inflammation or inflammation of the urethra, as well as drug-induced urinary retention. The use of a bladder catheter is also considered useful in the case of injuries to the urethra or prolonged bedriddenness. In these cases, the catheter takes over the drainage of urine for a certain period of time. It is also suitable for palliative patients who no longer have the strength to go to the toilet. Furthermore, a bladder catheter is used to introduce drugs into the urinary bladder and to flush it. The catheter can also serve useful diagnostic purposes. For example, the kidney function of patients can be assessed well over 24 hours with the aid of a catheter. It is also possible to examine various germs. Other examinations that can be performed with a bladder catheter include checking for residual urine, determining urethral width, measuring bladder pressure, and imaging the urinary tract.