Intermittent catheterization is a medical technique used in conditions where patients need either short-term catheter-based management of the

urinary bladder The urinary bladder, or simply bladder, is a hollow organ in humans and other vertebrates that stores urine from the kidneys before disposal by urination. In humans the bladder is a distensible organ that sits on the pelvic floor. Urine ente ...

or as a daily habit for life. Intermittent catheterization is considered the "gold standard" for medical bladder emptying. Intermittent catheterization can be done by the patient or a caregiver in a home environment.

Advantages

People with neurogenic bladder disorders like

spinal cord The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue, which extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column (backbone). The backbone encloses the central canal of the sp ...

injury,

spina bifida Spina bifida (Latin for 'split spine'; SB) is a birth defect in which there is incomplete closing of the spine and the membranes around the spinal cord during early development in pregnancy. There are three main types: spina bifida occulta, men ...

or multiple sclerosis, and non-neurogenic bladder disorders like obstruction due to prostate enlargement,

urethral stricture A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra, the tube connected to the bladder that allows the passing of urine. The narrowing reduces the flow of urine and makes it more difficult or even painful to empty the bladder. Urethral stricture is ...

s or post-operative urinary retention, need to be continuously catheterised to empty their urinary bladders. But such continuous catheterization can lead to problems like urinary tract infections (UTI),

s or male infertility. Intermittent catheterization at regular intervals avoids such negative effects of continuous long term catheterization, but maintaining a low bladder pressure throughout the day.

Technique

It is unclear which catheter designs, techniques or strategies affect the incidence of UTI, which are preferable to users and which are most cost effective.

References

{{Reflist ;General *Taylor-LeMone: Fundamentals of Nursing. 7th edition, page 1246 *http://www.nature.com/sc/journal/v40/n9/full/3101312a.html *https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/continence/reasons-for-intermittent-catheterisation-12-10-2010/ Catheters