How to Choose and Use Different Types of Catheters in Medical Education

People with difficulty urinating are given catheters to help them drain the urine from their bladders. Catheters are narrow, flexible tubes inserted into the bladder to drain the urine inside of it when people are unable to do it through their urinary tract. 

A patient may need a catheter if they suffer from conditions directly or indirectly affecting the bladder and urinary tract, such as urinary incontinence, surgery, nerve damage, urinary retention, medication side effects, childbirth, multiple sclerosis, or prostate enlargement. Any one of these conditions can impact a person’s ability to urinate unless they have a catheter to assist them. 

The Types of Catheters in Medical Education

Choosing the best catheter is essential for addressing the specific urinary needs of patients. Several different types of catheters exist in medical education to address each individual patient’s needs. The differences pertain to the different designs, sizes, and materials of the catheters.

For instance, latex and rubber are the two most common catheter materials, but silicone and plastic catheters are also used. Latex is a softer and more flexible material for catheters. Patients like latex catheters because they are more comfortable to insert inside of them. However, if a patient has a latex allergy, they will usually be given a silicone catheter because silicone is hypoallergenic. The only downside is that it feels stiffer than latex.  

Medical school educators have a responsibility to convey this message to medical school students by teaching them when to use each type of catheter in their medical education. Below are three primary types of catheters used in medical school education to prepare students for real-world treatment of patients with urinary issues. 

1) Foley Catheters

Foley catheters are the most common type of catheters given to patients. One end of the Foley catheter tube goes into the patient’s bladder, while the other end is connected to a collection bag to store the patient’s urine. The patient keeps the Foley catheter inside of their bladder for a long time. That way, if they have uncontrollable urine, the urine will flow out through the tube and into the bag without having to worry about holding in the urine. 

2) Intermittent Catheters

Intermittent catheters are not kept inside of the bladder like Foley catheters. Instead, they are only inserted when the patient must drain urine from the bladder. Afterward, the catheter is removed from the bladder and not left in it for extended periods. Patients with urination difficulties are prime candidates for intermittent catheters. Those not suitable for intermittent catheters are patients suffering from urinary incontinence or uncontrollable urination. These patients would need Foley catheters.

3) Condom Catheters

Condom catheters are non-invasive external catheters worn outside of the body. They are like the external version of Foley catheters because they have a tube and collection bag. However, the difference is that one end of the tube is worn over the penis of a male patient (or the vagina of a female patient), and the other end links to the collection bag. Some patients prefer condom catheters because they are non-invasive and reduce the risk of causing urinary tract infections. 

Tips for Choosing and Using the Best Catheter in Medical Education

Medical educators need to supply their medical students with the widest variety of catheters so that they can learn the pros and cons of each one. Once educators teach students about the differences between these catheters, they should let the students select the best catheter to treat patients in simulated training scenarios. 

Here are five general tips for choosing and using the best catheter in medical education.  

1) Diagnose the Patient’s Condition

There are all kinds of health conditions that could affect a patient’s ability to control their urine. They could be physical health conditions like overactive bladder and urinary incontinence or mental health conditions like dementia. Medical students should learn to diagnose patients’ health conditions to understand how it affects their urinary capabilities.  

2) Choose the Best Catheter Type

Understanding the patient’s health condition will help students make informed decisions when choosing the best catheter to relieve their urine. For instance, if a patient has dementia or urinary incontinence and cannot control when they urinate, it would be better to use a Foley catheter to support them. But if they suffer from urinary retention or injury and cannot urinate much, the intermittent catheter is better for them. 

3) Choose the Best Catheter Material

The best catheter material depends on the patient’s sensitivities, allergies, conditions, and tolerance. Medical students must learn to question patients about any known allergies and conditions to understand which catheter material is suitable for them.  

4) Consider the Tip Design of the Catheter

Catheters come with straight tips or curved tips. Straight-tipped catheters are most commonly used because they are easy to insert and accommodate most patients’ health conditions. On the other hand, curved tips are more suitable for patients with urinary or urethra obstructions and abnormalities to make the catheters easier to insert into the bladder. 

5) The Patient’s Lifestyle

What kind of activities does the patient do each day? What are their aesthetic and comfort preferences regarding their catheters? Medical students should learn this information to choose a catheter that doesn’t embarrass or interfere with their patients’ daily activities and personal preferences. 

For instance, patients are not going to want to wear a condom catheter if they need to go to work because it is too distracting and embarrassing. When a patient must spend a lot of time around other people, they are better off using intermittent catheters if they don’t suffer urinary leakage or incontinence.

Find Quality Catheters and Supplies for Your Medical School

Pristine Medical is the premier provider of premium catheters and medical supplies for medical schools in North America. Educators can find incontinence products, IV catheters, foley catheters, and specialty catheters capable of serving their lesson plans for students. Stocking up on these supplies will ensure your medical students get the best hands-on training possible when treating patients with urinary issues.