Urinary Catheter
Many people now perform Intermittent Self Catheterization (ISC) or Clean Intermittent Self Catheterization (CISC) as it is sometimes termed routinely every day on themselves. For others, this is not an appropriate procedure and an indwelling catheter is used for continuous drainage. The indwelling catheter, designed by Dr. Foley in 1937 is retained in the bladder by a balloon which can be inflated and deflated. Short-term (less than 30 days) or long-term (more than 30 days) drainage can be maintained but the end of the catheter should either be connected to a catheter valve, which can be opened and closed, or to a urine collection bag to create what is termed closed drainage to reduce the risk of bacterial infection.
Below is a list of resources to help further education into catheterization :
World-renowned urologist Dr. Gerard Henry shares his advice about known-carcinogen DEHP and his concerns about catheters that are made with it.