A catheter is really a simple tool used in medicine to help drain or inject fluids. It has been around for many years. Benjamin Franklin is said to have created a catheter to help his brother with a bladder stone. The ancient Greeks used reeds to empty bladders. Catheters continue to be used today, though with the added benefit of modern technology and materials.
Definition
A catheter is a tube that today is made of polymers. Silicone is used often because it does not react to body fluids. These tubes are usually flexible and thin, though there are harder, larger catheters designed for specific purposes. The primary catheter used today in hospitals is called the Gibbon-Walsh and is named after the two men who modernized this tool.
Draining Fluids
Catheters can be used to drain fluids. The Foley catheter is specifically designed to drain urine from the bladder. Other types can be used to drain fluids from abscesses or wherever there is a build up of dangerous liquid.
Injecting Fluids
Catheters also can be used to inject fluid. For instance, nutritional supplements or medications can be directly mainlined when time is of the essence or there are obstacles to regular lines of delivery. These small tubes have also changed the way serious issues such as heart problems are addressed. They are used in angioplasties, balloon sinuplasties, and even in taking a direct measurement of arterial or venous blood pressure.
Concerns
There can be bacterial infections caused by catheters. It is estimated that at least 2 million people a year just in the emergency room alone receive a central venous catheter and that ten percent of those end up with an infection due to the process. The most effective way to prevent this is to encourage hospitals to use best practices of hygiene, including hand washing and sterilization of equipment.
Warning
Catheters are used often, without problem. However, there have been cases of ruptures or tips breaking off. Therefore, if there is pain or discomfort after catheterization, please advise your medical provider. This is relatively rare, though, and in many more cases, catheters have been used effectively to improve health and even save lives.
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