Adult urinary catheterisation and catheter care

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Equipment required for Catheterisation
   1. Cleaning solutions
   2. Sterile water for balloon inflation
   3. Use of lubricants for male and female catheterization
3. Gaining consent for urinary catheterisation
   1. Support and information required
4. Summary
5. References

Sterile water for balloon inflation

The catheter balloon can only be inflated with sterile water for injections. There are occasions when you have removed a catheter and have got back less water from the balloon than was initially put in. This is because the latex catheter balloon is porous to some extent and water will leave the balloon via osmosis along a concentration gradient from an area of lower concentration (the water in the balloon) to an area of higher concentration (the urine in the bladder).

Any non-sterile solution, e.g. tap water, inserted into the balloon will therefore increase the risk of catheter acquired urinary tract infection and should not be used. Similarly normal saline should not be used. There will still be some water loss via osmosis from the balloon, which will result in a more concentrated salt solution within the balloon and inflation channel. There is a risk that salt crystals could deposit out of solution and block the inflation channel, causing a problem with balloon deflation.