Everything You Need to Know About Urinary Catheters

Urological supplies encompass a vast range of disorders and treatments, but perhaps one of the most common is the urinary catheter. These devices are generally necessary when a patient is unable to empty their bladder and can improve your quality of life immensely when necessary.
If a patient is unable to empty their bladder, it can cause infection, both in the ureters and in the kidneys, which isn’t good. But before you get started with a catheter, here’s everything you need to know.
When Are Catheters Used?
A doctor may recommend a urinary catheter if a patient has trouble controlling their urination, is suffering from incontinence, or is unable to empty their bladder. There are numerous causes for each of these issues, but the one thing they have in common is a risk of infection. Catheters and urinary drain bags can be immensely helpful in these situations, which may be a result of anything from a medical condition to medication issues.
What Types of Urinary Catheters Are There?
There are three main types of catheters: indwelling catheters, external (condom) catheters, and short-term (intermittent) catheters. Indwelling are catheters that reside inside the bladder, and can be used for long or short periods of time. A condom catheter is placed outside of the body, and is typically necessary for men who don?t have urinary retention problems but serious mental disorders, such as dementia. These male external catheters are extremely helpful in their care. Intermittent catheters are those that are only used for a short period of time, such as after a surgical procedure.
Are There Potential Complications?
As with any medical supplies, urological supplies come with their own set of risks. The most important things to keep in mind with a catheter is cleanliness. When fitted with a catheter, patients should keep clean and drink a good amount of water to keep urine a very light yellow color.
Urinary catheters have helped care for countless individuals, but it’s important to care for the catheters as well. These devices are important medical supplies, but only when used correctly.