Disposable Medical Catheters: Classification, Applications, and Standard Usage​

In the system of disposable medical supplies, Disposable medical catheters are one of the key instruments in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Owing to the advantages of single-use and prevention of cross-infection, they are widely used in multiple departments such as urology, emergency medicine, and geriatrics, providing crucial support for the treatment and care of patients with urinary dysfunction. This article will analyze the clinical value and standard application key points of disposable medical catheters from three core dimensions: classification, applications, and usage methods.​

Classification of Disposable Medical Catheters​

Disposable medical catheters can be divided into multiple categories based on material, clinical application, and catheterization purpose. Different types of catheters vary significantly in performance and applicable scenarios.​

From the perspective of materials, the mainstream types include latex catheters, silicone catheters, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) catheters. Latex catheters are traditional types with soft texture, good elasticity, and high biocompatibility with human tissues. They are relatively affordable and suitable for most patients with short-term catheterization needs, but they are contraindicated for patients allergic to latex. Silicone catheters have stronger chemical stability, resistance to aging and corrosion, and better biocompatibility than latex catheters. They are less likely to cause allergic reactions and are suitable for patients requiring long-term indwelling catheterization, such as those with spinal cord injuries leading to loss of urinary function who need long-term care. PVC catheters have low costs but relatively hard texture and poor comfort; their clinical application has gradually decreased and they are only used for short periods in emergency situations.​

Classified by clinical application, they can be divided into ordinary catheters, antibacterial catheters, and hydrophilic-coated catheters. Ordinary catheters only have basic catheterization functions and are suitable for patients with short-term needs and no special infection risks. Antibacterial catheters are coated with antibacterial components such as silver ions and chlorhexidine on their surface, which can inhibit bacterial growth on the catheter surface and reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections. They are suitable for patients with low immunity, long-term bed rest, or a history of infections. Hydrophilic-coated catheters form a hydrophilic film on the surface, which becomes smooth when in contact with liquids. This reduces frictional damage to the urethral mucosa during insertion, making them particularly suitable for patients with urethral stricture or sensitive mucosa.​

In addition, based on the purpose of catheterization, they can be classified into short-term catheters and long-term indwelling catheters. Short-term catheters are shorter in length (approximately 20-26 cm for adult males and 10-12 cm for adult females) and have a thinner lumen. They are used for temporary urinary needs, such as emptying the bladder before surgery and short-term urine volume monitoring after surgery. Long-term indwelling catheters are equipped with a balloon fixation device; after insertion into the bladder, they can be fixed by inflating or filling the balloon to prevent dislodgement. They have a thicker lumen and a drainage interface, facilitating connection to a urine collection bag, and are suitable for patients who rely on catheterization for a long time.​

Clinical Applications of Disposable Medical Catheters​

The core application of Disposable medical catheters is to solve urinary dysfunction problems, while providing auxiliary support for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The specific application scenarios can be divided into four categories.​

Firstly, it relieves symptoms of dysuria. Patients with diseases such as urethral obstruction caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, neurogenic bladder after stroke, and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction may experience urinary retention due to the inability of the bladder to contract normally or obstruction of the urethral passage. Symptoms include lower abdominal distension and pain, and inability to urinate independently. At this time, inserting a disposable medical catheter can quickly drain urine from the bladder, relieve the patient’s pain, and prevent renal function damage caused by overexpansion of the bladder.​

Secondly, it enables urine volume monitoring and bladder protection during surgery. In major surgeries such as abdominal surgery, urological surgery, and cardiovascular surgery, doctors need to grasp the patient’s urine volume in real time to evaluate circulatory function and renal function. By indwelling a disposable medical catheter, accurate recording of hourly urine volume can be achieved, providing a basis for adjusting fluid replacement volume and medication use. Meanwhile, emptying the bladder before surgery can avoid bladder damage during surgical operations and reduce the risk of intraoperative complications.​

Thirdly, it provides nursing support for critically ill patients. Patients in the ICU, such as comatose patients, patients with severe trauma, or patients with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, often cannot control urination independently and need strict monitoring of fluid balance. Disposable medical catheters can realize continuous drainage and collection of urine, reducing the workload of nursing staff. At the same time, by observing the color and properties of urine (such as the presence of hematuria or proteinuria), medical staff can timely detect changes in the patient’s condition, such as acute kidney injury and internal bleeding.​

Finally, it is used for urine sample collection. When patients need to undergo tests such as routine urine tests and urine culture but cannot collect qualified samples independently (e.g., infants and young children, patients with disturbance of consciousness), disposable medical catheters can directly extract urine from the bladder. This avoids contamination of urine by bacteria in the urethra or perineum during excretion, ensuring the accuracy of test results and providing a reliable basis for the diagnosis of infectious diseases.​

Standard Usage Methods of Disposable Medical Catheters​

The use of Disposable medical catheters must strictly follow the principles of aseptic operation. Improper operation may lead to complications such as urinary tract infections and urethral mucosal damage. Therefore, the operation must be performed by professionally trained medical staff. The specific steps are as follows:​

(1) Pre-operation Preparation​

Item Preparation: Check whether the package of the disposable medical catheter is intact and within the validity period to ensure no damage or contamination. Meanwhile, prepare items such as sterile gloves, iodophor disinfectant, normal saline, syringes (for inflating/filling the balloon), urine collection bags, and treatment towels.​

Patient Preparation: Assist the patient to take a supine position and expose the perineum. For male patients, lift the penis to form a 60° angle with the abdomen; for female patients, separate the labia. Explain the purpose of the operation to the patient or their family members to relieve their tension. If the patient has urethral pain or discomfort, they can inform the medical staff in advance.​

Environment Preparation: Close doors and windows, draw the partition curtain, keep the operating environment clean and quiet, and reduce personnel movement to avoid contamination of the sterile area.​

(2) Operation Process​

Disinfection: Medical staff put on sterile gloves and disinfect the area from the external urethral orifice outward in a spiral manner with iodophor-soaked cotton balls. For male patients, disinfect the external urethral orifice, glans penis, and coronal sulcus; for female patients, disinfect the external urethral orifice, inner side of the labia minora, and outer side of the labia majora. Each cotton ball is used only once and must not be reused for wiping.​

Catheter Insertion: Take out the disposable medical catheter and lubricate the front end of the catheter with normal saline (hydrophilic-coated catheters need to be pre-soaked in normal saline to activate the coating). For male patients, slowly insert the catheter into the urethra for approximately 20-22 cm; for female patients, insert it for approximately 4-6 cm. When urine flows out from the end of the catheter, continue inserting it for another 2-3 cm to ensure the front end of the catheter enters the bladder.​

Fixation and Connection: Use a syringe to draw an appropriate amount of normal saline (generally 5-10 ml, according to the catheter instruction manual) and inject it into the balloon. Gently pull the catheter to confirm that it is firmly fixed. Then connect the end of the catheter to the urine collection bag and open the switch of the collection bag to ensure smooth urine drainage.​

(3) Post-operation Care​

Patient Care: Assist the patient in arranging their clothing and taking a comfortable position. Advise the patient to avoid pulling the catheter and keep the urine collection bag below the level of the bladder to prevent urine reflux and subsequent infection. Guide the patient to drink more water, with a daily water intake of 1500-2000 ml, to flush the urethra through increased urine volume and reduce bacterial growth.​

Catheter Care: Observe the color, volume, and properties of urine. If symptoms such as turbid urine, hematuria, or fever occur, report to the doctor in a timely manner. Replace the urine collection bag regularly (generally once or twice a week), and strictly follow aseptic operation during replacement to avoid contamination of the connector. Short-term catheters should generally be indwelled for no more than 7 days; long-term indwelling catheters need to be replaced every 2-4 weeks according to the patient’s condition. Before replacement, the necessity of catheterization for the patient should be evaluated to avoid overuse.​

Precautions and Development Trends​

When using Disposable medical catheters, special attention must be paid to adhering to aseptic operation throughout the entire process, as this is the key to preventing urinary tract infections. Meanwhile, it is necessary to select the appropriate type of catheter based on the patient’s age, gender, condition, and allergy history. For example, children should use thin-caliber silicone catheters, and patients allergic to latex should not use latex catheters. In addition, disposable medical catheters belong to medical waste; after use, they must be placed in special yellow medical waste bags in accordance with regulations and handled uniformly by professional institutions, and must not be discarded randomly.​

With the development of medical technology, Disposable medical catheters are constantly innovating and will develop in a safer, more comfortable, and more intelligent direction in the future. For instance, absorbable material catheters are expected to reduce the frequency of replacement and alleviate patient pain; intelligent catheters equipped with temperature and pressure sensors can monitor bladder pressure and urine temperature in real time, providing more accurate data support for condition assessment. These innovations will further enhance the clinical value of disposable medical catheters and provide patients with better diagnosis and treatment experiences.​

In conclusion, as an important type of disposable medical supplies, Disposable medical catheters have clear classifications and wide applications. Standardized use is the core of ensuring clinical safety. Medical staff must proficiently master the classification characteristics and operation procedures of these catheters, select and apply them reasonably based on the patient’s individual situation, and pay attention to technological innovation trends to continuously improve the quality and safety of catheterization care.