Indications for catheterisation and catheter selection

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Assessing urinary incontinence
3. Indications for Catheterisation
   1. Contra-indications to catheterisation
4. Catheter Selection
   1. Intermittent versus Indwellling?
   2. Catheter Size
   3. Balloon Size
   4. Catheter Length
   5. Charrière size
5. Catheter Material
6. Summary
7. References

Summary

- Significant numbers of patients undergo urinary catheterisation, which is not without risk, often unnecessarily

- Any patient identified as having urinary symptoms should undergo a full and focused continence assessment, including a detailed history, examination and simple investigations (urinalysis, post-void residual measurement, frequency/volume charting).

- Assessment findings should be carefully interpreted to determine whether catheterisation is indicated

- If catheterisation is indicated then appropriate catheter selection should be informed by the expected duration of catheterisation, the reason for catheterisation and the sex of the patient.