What are Catheters?

What are Catheters used for?

The bladder is a muscular organ that is also hollow and stores urine. It resembles a balloon that expands when the bladder fills with urine. It can hold up to 600ml of urine for close to 6 hours normally. There is a muscle in the wall of the bladder called detrusor, which allows the bladder to fill as well as release the urine. The brain sends signals to the bladder when it is full and needs to release the urine. That’s why the brain is there to send messages that allow the body to release urine. It sends messages to several parts of the bladder, including the detrusor muscle, sphincter, and pelvic floor. The signal it sends the detrusor muscle is to release the urine into the urethra; then, the sphincter is told to open, while the pelvic floor allows the spincter to open. Upon emptying the bladder, the sphincter then closes, the pelvic floor tightens and the detrusor muscle relaxes so the bladder can expand and fill again. What are catheters? Catheters are latex, polyurethane, or silicone tubes that are strategically inserted into a bladder through the urethra. The process of using a catheter lets the patient’s urine released from the bladder for collection and/or examination. Use of a catheter also includes the injection of liquids for treating and diagnosing bladder conditions. Usually nurses perform the catheter procedure, but people can also use self-catheterization. Also, the catheter can be permanent or intermittent. What are catheters and different types? There are several different types of catheters. These include Foley catheter, which is an inner urinary catheter made or silicon or natural rubber used with a inflated sterilized balloon tip; Intermittent catheters are flexible and short term for the release of urine, without a balloon tip and coated with a hydrophilic coat; The hematuria catheter is similar to the Foley, but has both two way and three way abilities and is mainly used for a condition called hemostasis and in surgical procedures; An external catheter or condom catheter is used for males who experience incontinence; The coude catheter has a tip that is curved and is used in treating conditions having to do with the prostate; The Hickman catheter is inserted and used for drawing blood or administering nutrients or medicine to the body directly. There are a variety of catheters for various bladder problems in men, women and children. Most catheters that are inserted inside the body cavity are made from polyurethane. They are intentionally created to be different lengths and sizes. The more advanced models are known to have hydrophilic surface coatings that are generally thin. When put in water, the coating gets larger, eventually becoming a smooth film that helps make the catheter safer and more comfortable. For determining the right catheter for you, please consult a physician.