A catheter is a flexible plastic tube that is inserted into a patient’s bladder via the urethra. The other end is either attached to a urine collection bag which must be emptied regularly or a valve for convenient drainage into a toilet. There are several different kinds of catheter and each one functions slightly differently:
- Intermittent Urinary Catheters
One of the more common, they are usually inserted into the bladder via the urethra for just long enough to empty the bladder several times a day.
- Indwelling Urinary Catheters
Inserted in the same way as the intermittent catheter, the indwelling variety is not removed. They are held in place by a small water-filled balloon, which is inflated once within the bladder.
- Suprapubic Catheters
Another that remains in place, suprapubic catheters are inserted through an incision in the abdomen directly into the bladder. Often used for those with a damaged or blocked urethra, the procedure is generally carried out under anesthetic.